Fitwalking for AIL Reggio Calabria

Villaggio AIL, viale Genoese Zerbi · Reggio di Calabria, Costa Viola, Calabria

4 October 2026

On Sunday 4 October 2026 Fitwalking for AIL returns to Reggio Calabria, the non-competitive charity walk now in its tenth national edition. Registration at the AIL Village, in viale Genoese Zerbi next to Reggio Calabria Lido station, opens at 9 am; the loop route runs along the Lungomare Falcomatà, the Urban Park, via Marina Bassa and Rada Giunchi. The charity fee is 10 euros and includes a backpack, a T-shirt and two snacks. Proceeds support research and care for patients with blood cancers and their families.

What Fitwalking for AIL is

Fitwalking for AIL is the non-competitive charity walk organised by AIL, the Italian association against leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, to raise funds for research and for the care of haematology patients and their families. Fitwalking means walking at a brisk pace using the natural movements of walking, and it is open to anyone: no specific training or equipment is needed and everyone goes at their own speed. The 2026 edition is the tenth and involves around 40 Italian cities, with the patronage of CONI, Sport e Salute and the Italian Athletics Federation among others. The initiative is linked to World Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Day, which falls in September. The national day is Sunday 27 September, but some cities have their own date: Reggio Calabria walks on Sunday 4 October, together with Ceglie Messapica and Salerno.

Meeting point and route in Reggio Calabria

The event takes place on Sunday 4 October 2026, with participants welcomed from 9 am at the AIL Village set up in viale Genoese Zerbi, in the area next to Reggio Calabria Lido station. From here a loop route crosses some of the busiest spots on the city seafront: the Lungomare Falcomatà, the Urban Park near the former Tempietto, via Marina Bassa and Rada Giunchi, as far as the È Hotel, before returning to the start. The walk is therefore almost entirely flat, with the Strait of Messina in view. The local section has not published the exact length of the route or the precise start time of the walk, which follows registration: arriving at 9 am leaves time to collect the kit calmly. Rada Giunchi, listed in some calendars as the venue, is in fact one of the points along the route.

Registration, fee and kit

Taking part requires a charity fee of 10 euros per person, which includes the event kit: a backpack, the event T-shirt and two snacks. To register, the Reggio Calabria section provides an online form, linked from the official event page. Payment can be made in cash or by card at the AIL office in via Santa Lucia al Parco 19, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1.30 pm, until 2 October, or on the morning of the walk. Bank transfer to the section and PayPal are also accepted, with details given on the same page. Registering in advance helps the organisers prepare the kits and shortens the queue at the Village on Sunday morning.

The AIL Village: environment and health

Alongside the walk, the AIL Village in viale Genoese Zerbi hosts activities on environment and health, with free checks and services open to the public. According to the section's programme, these include screening for venous insufficiency, a free assessment of circulation in the legs, oncology aesthetics consultations and hand treatments by APEO practitioners, and a foot wellbeing service with advice on posture. These are also meant for people who are not walking: relatives, companions or passers-by can stop at the Village, find out about the association's work and use the checks. As with all initiatives of this kind, the services available and their times may vary depending on the availability of the volunteer professionals.

The cause: research and care for haematology patients

AIL is a third-sector organisation headquartered in Rome with a network of provincial sections working locally; the Reggio Calabria section also covers the province of Vibo Valentia. The association supports scientific research into blood diseases such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and care for patients and their families, with services that help people through long periods of treatment. National president Giuseppe Toro has stated that the proceeds of Fitwalking go to research, patient care and support for families. For participants, the registration fee is therefore first of all a donation, and the walk becomes a way to raise awareness of these diseases and of those who live with them every day. The national hashtag for the 2026 edition is #versonuovitraguardi.

Practical information

The walk is open to everyone, adults and families, and is not competitive: there are no rankings or times to beat. Comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing and a water bottle are recommended; in early October mornings in Reggio are usually mild, but the sun on the seafront can be strong. The Village is a short walk from Reggio Calabria Lido station, convenient for those arriving by train from the province; if driving, look for parking early, as the seafront is busy on Sunday mornings. For information, the AIL Reggio Calabria section can be reached on 0965 24341 or at ail.reggiocalabria@virgilio.it. If you want to stay in the city for the weekend, you can look for accommodation among the rentals on the portal and check the other events on the calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When is Fitwalking for AIL in Reggio Calabria?

On Sunday 4 October 2026, with registration from 9 am. The national day is Sunday 27 September, but Reggio Calabria has its own date.

Where is the meeting point?

At the AIL Village in viale Genoese Zerbi, in the area next to Reggio Calabria Lido station. The seafront loop route, which also passes Rada Giunchi, starts and ends there.

How much does it cost and what does the fee include?

The charity fee is 10 euros per person and includes a backpack, the event T-shirt and two snacks. Proceeds go to AIL for research and care for patients with blood cancers.

How do I register?

Through the online form on the AIL Reggio Calabria section's page, paying at the office in via Santa Lucia al Parco 19 (Monday to Friday 9 am to 1.30 pm, until 2 October), by bank transfer, PayPal or on the morning of the event.

Do I need to be fit?

No. It is a non-competitive walk with no rankings, on an almost entirely flat seafront route. Everyone walks at their own pace.

Are there free services at the AIL Village?

Yes, the Village hosts environment and health activities with free checks: venous insufficiency screening, oncology aesthetics consultations and a foot wellbeing and posture service.

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