Aidemarcha Race Returns With 3,000 Places

A summer charity race is back in San Javier, and the real story is scale. Aidemarcha 2026 opened registration on May 1 for its 16th edition, with the event set for Saturday, July 4. The headline number is 3,000 places — big enough that organisers are calling it the most crowded summer night race around the Mar Menor. But this is not just a fun run. It is also one of Aidemar’s main public fundraising events and a fixture on Murcia’s regional running calendar. ### What actually came back? Aidemarcha is the annual night race and walk organised by Aidemar, the disability support association based around the Mar Menor, together with San Javier’s sports department and with support from FAMU, Murcia’s athletics federation. This year’s edition is the XVI Aidemarcha, which means the event has moved well past one-off local novelty and into established summer tradition. (sanjavier.es) ### What are people signing up for? There are really three events under one umbrella. Adults can enter the 5K running race or the walking event, and children up to age 13 get their own Mini Aidemarcha. The split matters because it explains how the total gets to 3,000 places: 1,000 bibs for runners, 1,500 for walkers, and 500 for the children’s race. Adult registration costs €10 and children’s entry costs €5. (sanjavier.es) ### Where does the race go? The route is built to feel like a summer event, not just a stopwatch event. The start area is next to Parque Almansa in San Javier. The main race and walk then head toward the Barnuevo esplanade in Santiago de la Ribera, with the finish there. The running distance is 5 km, the walking route is 3 km, and organisers also promise music and entertainment along the course. (murciatoday.com) Basically, it is designed to be social as much as competitive. ### Why is the 3,000 number a big deal? Because it turns a local fundraiser into a regional mass-participation event. The official event site says the goal this year is to reach 3,000 bibs across all formats, and San Javier’s town hall describes it as the biggest night race of the summer in the Mar Menor. That is a different category from a standard town 5K. It means road closures, family programming, tourism spillover, and a much larger fundraising base for Aidemar. (turismoregiondemurcia.es) ### Is this a serious race or a community march? Turns out it is both, and that is the trick. Aidemarcha 2026 is listed inside the Murcia Running Challenge circuit — in Silver and Gold categories on the race platform — so competitive runners have league reasons to show up. But the event also keeps the walking format and children’s race front and center, which lowers the barrier for families and casual participants. (aidemarcha.com) That mix is probably why it keeps growing. ### Where does the money go? The event is explicitly tied to Aidemar’s work supporting people with disabilities in the Mar Menor area. That gives the race a clearer purpose than the usual “sports plus summer vibes” formula. You are not just buying a bib for a July night out — you are also helping fund services tied to inclusion and disability support. (alcanzatumeta.es) ### Why now? The timing is deliberate. Aidemarcha always lands on the first Saturday of July, right when the coast is filling up and evening outdoor events become part of the local summer rhythm. A night start also makes the race more accessible in Murcia’s heat. This year, the children’s activities begin from 18:30, the Mini Aidemarcha starts at 20:00, and the main race and walk start at 21:00. (euroweeklynews.com) ### Bottom line? Aidemarcha is back as more than a race. It is a midsummer charity event, a regional running stop, and a pretty smart piece of community organising — all wrapped into one 3,000-place night on July 4. (sanjavier.es)