The Breton Diwan schools establishment organised a relay run around Brittany to raise money for the breton language. The run, Ar redadeg, was just one of 30 events that were 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.
The race ran through as many towns with Diwan schools as possible, covering a distance of 600km at an average speed of 9 km (5.6 miles) per hour. The idea is that each runner carries a baton for 1 kilometre and pays 100 Euros for the privilege. The event sold 720km and saw 8000 runners taking part. The event's organiser, Jean-Michel Sanner in an interview with Ofiz ar Brezhoneg said "we have learnt a lot from this first Redadeg. We have seen what needs to be imporved and we have new ideas to move the event forward"
The second Ar Redadeg will be organised in 2010. For more information on the event and on the Diwan organisation, click on the links located above.