Originally Published: 2010-02-07

Daniela Zuccarelli and Tina Barbieri are some of the participants in the upcoming Venice Marathon in October.

Having the opportunity to travel to Venice, Italy, jogging and having fun while getting into shape and learning the secrets of a timeless sport – all while also enjoying the satisfaction of contributing to a good cause.
This is the spirit that animates Team Villa, which on Oct. 24 will take part in the 25th edition of the famous Venice Marathon – the marathon that winds its way through the lagoon city’s bridges and canals.
The event was announced last week at Toronto’s Columbus Centre in the presence of the lucky participants, along with well-known personnel from Villas Charities – the organization launching the event, and which, through a vast series of services, provides for many cultural and social assistance initiatives.
“The event will be splendid but also demanding as far as organization is concerned,” said Laura Dal Bo, executive director of Villa Charities Foundation. “Following a group of 25 [the number of Canadian participants, all from the Toronto area] is not a simple matter. We leave Oct. 20. There’ll be a welcoming party, and a day or so to recuperate from the trip. Then there’s the actual marathon on Oct. 24, followed by a few days to enjoy the city.”
This is one of five fundraising events that Villa Charities is organizing this year, explained Dal Bo. Other events include “An Afternoon Affair,” an afternoon dedicated exclusively to women; a bicycle tour of Toronto – in fact a sort of modified Giro d’Italia (one of cycling’s Grand Tours) of Toronto including historic Little Italy sites and Vaughan; a golf tournament; and the October “Venetian Ball.”
As far as raising funds, Dal Bo explained that each marathon participant will contribute $5,500 that can be out-of-pocket or through donations. The goal is to raise $200,000.
Tony Gentilucci, co-chair of Team Villa said that Venice was the ideal place for the initiative:
“We were in Rome last year where there were 18,000 participants. This year in Venice, instead, there will be 7,000. It’ll be a much more intimate marathon, and above all an event that celebrates the 25th edition. For those of us from Team Villa, this is the second year we’re organizing such an event, and we’re proud of having transformed an idea into an event that has practically doubled the number of participants compared to last season.”

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