Puerto Rican Runners Lace Up for Resilience and End Violence

Over a thousand participants gather in Puerto Rico this weekend, lacing up their running shoes to champion a critical cause: supporting survivors of gender-based violence. They hope to raise vital funds and awareness through relay races spanning the island.

A Weekend of Relay Races

It is early morning at the Parque Central athletic track in San Juan, where hundreds of dedicated runners take their marks. This marks the start of “Kilómetros de Cambio,” a relay event comprised of 53 segments that will stretch across multiple municipalities in Puerto Rico. These athletes aim to cover the island over three days from the western coastal town of Mayagüez to the mountainous city of Cayey and Luquillo in the east. Their collective goal is both simple and profound: raise USD 500,000 to keep nine shelters open for women and children impacted by gender-based violence.

Driven by enthusiasm and shared dedication, people run, jog, and sometimes walk in relay teams. The course is broken into short sections, permitting runners of varied abilities to participate and control their speed. Some parts offer views of green mountains, while others wind through busy city areas. Donations and increased awareness of Puerto Rico’s issues are the main objectives in any location.

The race began at sunrise on Friday. A start made people feel good, which suited each baton exchange. Different groups were welcome. Event organizers planned the event so everyone felt included. On Sunday, the athletes plan to finish the race. A finish line will show the message: Puerto Rico opposes violence against women.

A Growing Fundraising Effort

This second annual edition of “Kilómetros de Cambio” has already proven it can surpass its previous successes. According to participants who spoke to EFE, contributions reached around USD 310,000 before the first runner even took off this year. The initiative moves toward its goal of USD 500,000. This money will supply the island’s shelters with the needed supplies. Shelters support people who have endured domestic violence.

In the prior year, the event earned USD 180,000. At first, organizers saw this amount as a notable achievement. The growing requirements in local communities motivated them. It caused them to want to double or even triple the prior year’s earnings. Shelters often rely heavily on public funding, which organizers fear may be reduced or delayed. Private donations from events like this relay keep facilities operational and help expand crucial programs, including counseling, legal support, and community outreach.

“Every dollar counts,” emphasizes one runner whose company pledged a generous contribution matching employee donations. This is precisely how “Kilómetros de Cambio” continues to garner supporters: by reminding everyone on the island that generosity can create a tangible impact, especially in the lives of women and children in precarious circumstances.

Voices of Survivors and Advocates

Among the notable figures supporting the cause is entrepreneur Alejandro Pabón, who works with Move Concerts behind events such as Bad Bunny’s “No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí” residency. Pabón shared with EFE his motivation: “My mother was a victim of gender-based violence, and it’s something I’ll never forget. Shelters require advocacy. Victims need a secure location and the chance for a more positive future.
The experience of Pabón’s father is a serious subject. In 2010, the father of Pabón, José Pabón Lugo, a producer, used a gun to kill Maribel Castrodad, the mother of Pabón as well as then killed himself. That event was traumatic. Pabón then began to support the opposition to violence based on gender. He told others to offer their voices and resources. He said good causes need help. He added that people are united for a better country.

To EFE, Fabián Mora, an entrepreneur and runner, spoke about the decision to join the relay. He said he felt he had to help after he saw disturbing reports of domestic violence in Puerto Rico. From their businesses, he and many participants gave funds. This increased the impact of what started as a grassroots event. Meanwhile, communicator Wilmarilis Sánchez, also interviewed by EFE, underscores how critical it is to sustain the shelters, describing them as essential havens that offer counseling, legal support, and necessities to survivors who often have nowhere else to turn.

Men Step Up for the Cause

One distinctive aspect of “Kilómetros de Cambio” is the large number of men who have joined what was initially envisioned solely for women runners. As the event’s planning evolved over the years, men asked to be part of the movement to show solidarity with survivors and to publicly reject machista violence.
Today, close to 600 men have laced up alongside women to send a clear message: combating gender-based violence is not an issue confined to women; it is everyone’s responsibility. “For us, it’s an honor to be part of ‘Kilómetros de Cambio,'” says Mora. “Domestic violence and mistreatment of women affect the heart of society—the family—and so we’re here to say ‘no more.'”

The group’s supportive behavior is very important in adjusting common beliefs about domestic violence in Puerto Rico. Men speak out against abuse and take real action, making the community of advocates on the island more capable. The evidence of agreement and understanding is hoped to alter old social standards. The goal is for new generations to build relationships based on shared respect.

Feminicides on the Rise

The urgency behind this event grows with the alarming statistics on femicides in Puerto Rico. According to local data cited by event organizers, eight femicides were reported up to April of this year alone. In 2021, there were 21 cases, followed by 17 in 2022. The number climbed to 29 in 2023 and, tragically, matched the previous year’s tally of 29 in 2024. Such figures underscore how domestic violence remains a severe and persistent crisis on the island.

Activist and volunteer efforts do not always stop the violence, according to Sánchez. He thinks this weekend’s relay moves people closer to stopping the abuse cycle. Money raised becomes more shelter resources, counseling hours, legal help, and job training for survivors.

The second annual, “Kilómetros de Cambio,” indicates potential. Organizers foresee the expansion of the event. More runners will participate. The event will donate more resources to shelters. They also plan to develop additional educational programs to address the root causes of gender-based violence, from sexism entrenched in language to a lack of awareness regarding healthy relationship dynamics.

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The last runners will cross the finish line on Sunday. Supporters will surround them. The supporters include friends, family, fellow athletes, and shelter staff. The supporters gathered in a display of solidarity. Each donation is placed next to each cheer with each step, and people from Puerto Rico send a message. The message says they will not stay silent as their communities suffer. Instead, they will run—mile after mile—to demand change and provide a lifeline for survivors of gender-based violence.