The Breton Diwan schools organisation is to organise a relay run around Brittany to raise money for the Breton language. The run, Ar redadeg, will be just one of 30 events that are intended to repair the organisation's bank balance, after it was announced late last year that a financial crisis was immanent as a consequence of an 87000 Euro deficit. Other events are also planned, to coincide with the 30 year anniversary of the DIWAN school movement, including the writing of a detective novel by Diwan students and a Scrabble tournament.

However it is expected that Ar redadeg will be the biggest fund-raiser and has generated the most interest. For three days and three nights participants will run 600 km without interruption and the official runners taking part in the relay will pass a baton to the next during each section of the event. The baton, representing Breton culture and language, will be passed from one runner to the next throughout the five departments of Brittany, starting in Naoned/Nantes on 30th April and finishing in Karaez/Carhaix on 3rd May. For every kilometre run it is hoped that 100 Euros can be raised in sponsorship by the participants.

The idea for the run takes its inspiration from the annual Basque Korrika event, where participants run a distance of 2000km throughout the Basque Country in support of Euskera – the Basque language. The Basque Korrika runners raise a staggering 300 Euros for every kilometre run.

A song that has been recorded by a famous Breton language rock group, EV, especially for the event, will play along the ten sections of Ar redadeg and on the 3 rd May a fest-noz (party) and concert will take place.

The Kernow Branch are asking people to sponsor two of the official runners in Ar redadeg - Riwana and Talwyn Trevenen-Baudu - who are close relatives of a member of the Branch and pupils at a Diwan school in Breizh/Brittany. The runners need to raise one hundred Euros or more for every kilometre run, but every contribution is welcome.

Any donations either in euros or in pounds sterling, can be sent via Ann Trevenen Jenkin, An Gernyk, Fordh an Chapel, Leedstown, Hayle TR27 6BA, Kernow/Cornwall, UK. (For cheques in English make payable to Noonvares Press and they will be transferred to Brittany.) for further details email Ann Jenkin (telephone 01736-850332) or Morwenna Jenkin in Breizh/Brittany ( mor.jenkin [at] ...).

Useful links:

(voir le site)

(voir le site) (voir le site)

(This article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

06/01/08