Sport, integration, and shared energy – this is how the 5th edition of the Orlen Paralympic Run, which took place on October 5, 2025, in Warsaw’s Kępa Potocka Park, can be described in a nutshell. Representatives of the Nicolaus Copernicus Superior School in Warsaw – students and employees – could not miss this unique event. They set off on the running route together, showing that physical activity is truly for everyone.
A run that brings people together
The Orlen Paralympic Run is an event that has been inspiring and breaking down barriers for years. Participants can choose the distance that best suits their abilities – a 1 km inclusive walk/run or a 5 km main run. The routes can be completed by running, walking, in a wheelchair, with a guide, or with an assistance dog. Everyone who crossed the finish line received a commemorative medal, but the real reward, as the participants themselves say, was the shared joy, excitement, and sense of community.
For the SGMK community, participation in the event is not only a sporting adventure, but also an expression of the values that build our university on a daily basis – openness, equality, and empathy.
Accessibility in practice
Our community’s participation in the Orlen Paralympic Run fits perfectly with the activities carried out as part of the “Accessible Nicolaus Copernicus Superior School” project, which aims to increase the accessibility of the university for people with disabilities and foreign students.
The project includes, among other things, an analysis of barriers, training for employees, scholarship programs, and courses for people with special needs. These are concrete actions designed to make learning and working at SGMK fully accessible to everyone.
You can read more about the project at: https://www.sgmk.edu.pl/grants-and-projects/accessible-nicolaus-copernicus-superior-school/
Race participants / photo: Polish Paralympic Committee
Strength of spirit and inspiration
The slogan “sport for everyone” also has a deep emotional and psychological dimension. In the project “Suicidology – state of knowledge analysis and educational campaign,” implemented by the Nicolaus Copernicus Superior School, we often emphasize that physical activity and sharing emotions are important elements of mental health prevention.
A great example is the story of Justyna Franieczek, a Polish Paralympian who, after battling cancer and a car accident, returned to sport, won gold at the championships, and now inspires others to never give up.
In the latest episode of the podcast “Jestem tu, jeszcze” (“I’m still here”), she talks about her journey and why it’s worth fighting for your dreams – even when they seem impossible.
🎧 Listen to the conversation on the project website: https://www.sgmk.edu.pl/from-cancer-and-a-car-accident-to-gold-at-the-championships-the-extraordinary-story-of-justyna-franieczek / suicydologia.sgmk.edu.pl
