The Milan Marathon is much more than a race: it’s a chance to bring sport and solidarity together, running for a cause that can truly change the lives of newborns and their mothers.

Following last year’s debut, the Paolo Chiesi Foundation is back for its second year in the Milan Marathon’s Charity Program — this time to support the project “A Healthy Start for Burkina Faso.“

Why Burkina Faso needs our support

Neonatal mortality remains one of the world’s most pressing health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa: around 800,000 newborns die every year, at an average rate of 26 to 30 deaths per 1,000 live births. According to the WHO, two-thirds of these deaths could be prevented with simple, accessible healthcare measures. In Burkina Faso specifically, the neonatal mortality rate stands at roughly 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The Paolo Chiesi Foundation has been working in Burkina Faso since 2010, alongside the Saint Camille Hospital in Ouagadougou (HOSCO), run by the Camillian Fathers. Together, we’re working to improve the quality of neonatal care — especially for premature and critically ill babies — through ongoing strategic, technical, and training support to the hospital’s neonatal unit.

Since 2020, with the Foundation’s backing, we’ve also helped build the Réseau de Périnatologie de la Région du Centre (RPRC), a coordination network bringing together 13 healthcare facilities across Ouagadougou — hospitals, birth centers, and national and international health institutions — to strengthen how critically ill newborns are referred and cared for, and to spread shared protocols and training across the region.

What the project aims to achieve

Our goal is to reduce neonatal mortality across partner facilities and improve care for premature, low-birth-weight, and sick newborns, both in neonatal wards and in Kangaroo Care units, where babies benefit from skin-to-skin contact with their mother or father.

More specifically, we’re working to:

  • Strengthen essential care to cut mortality linked to prematurity and infections
  • Improve treatment for newborns with respiratory complications and jaundice
  • Build a network of collaboration between hospitals and health centers across the Ouagadougou area, improving care for mothers and babies alike

Thanks to this work, more and more newborns receive quality care every year — giving them a real chance to survive and thrive.

How you can get involved: run, fundraise, save lives

The 2027 Milan Marathon offers two ways to run for our cause:

  • Relay Marathon: put together a team of four and split the race track
  • Full Marathon: take on all 42 km yourself

Whether you’re a seasoned runner or lacing up for the first time, either option lets you run with us and become a personal fundraiser: set up your fundraising page on Rete del Dono, rally friends and family behind you, and turn every kilometer into a concrete act of solidarity. Every donation goes directly to the “A Healthy Start for Burkina Faso” project.

Our goal is to bring 100 relay runners and 15 marathon runners to the start line, raising €30,000 together for HOSCO. The more of us there are on 4 April in Milan, the greater the support we’ll bring to Ouagadougou — and the more newborns we’ll be able to take care of. Join us and help us cross this finish line!

Why run with us?

Running for the Paolo Chiesi Foundation means:

  • Making a real difference to children’s health in Burkina Faso
  • Living a unique experience where sport meets solidarity
  • Becoming an ambassador for an important cause, rallying your community behind a challenge bigger than the race itself

Don’t miss the chance to make a difference. Sign up for the 2027 Milan Marathon, choose the Paolo Chiesi Foundation as your charity, and start your fundraiser on Rete del Dono.

Run with us, raise funds, and give newborns in Burkina Faso a better future

To learn more about the project and how to take part, visit our page on Rete del Dono or write to us at info@paolochiesifoundation.org.

Have questions? Check out the FAQs

General information about the event

The 2027 Milan Marathon (its 25th edition) will take place on Sunday, 4 April 2027, running through some of the city’s most iconic areas — a unique experience for runners and spectators alike.

Start times for the marathon and the relay will be set by the organizers and announced a few weeks before the event, usually in the morning. Check the official website regularly for the latest updates.

The Milan Marathon goes ahead rain or shine. Only exceptionally severe weather could lead to changes to the program or a suspension of the event, and the organizers would announce any updates promptly.

On the official Milan Marathon website and on Paolo Chiesi Foundation’s page on Rete del Dono.

Participation, registration and logistics

You can run the full marathon or join the Relay Marathon, the team relay open to groups of four. Either way, select the Paolo Chiesi Foundation as the charity you’re supporting and set up your personal fundraiser on Rete del Dono.

Email us at info@paolochiesifoundation.org and open your fundraising page on Rete del Dono. The Foundation will guide you through every step. Keep in mind that official race registration closes on 31 March 2027, or earlier if the race sells out.

Only full marathon runners need one; relay runners don’t. Check the official Milan Marathon website for the latest requirements.

Race bibs are available at the Milano Running Festival, held in the days before the event (1, 2 and 3 April 2027), at a location announced by the organizers. Bring a valid ID and your registration confirmation. We recommend checking opening times on the official Milan Marathon website.

A bag storage service is available near the start area for each relay leg. Every participant gets a labelled bag they can drop off and collect after finishing their race. We recommend not leaving any valuables inside.

The marathon and relay both start in central Milan, easily reachable by public transport. Arrive well ahead of time to avoid queues and delays, especially given the road closures typical of race day.

Route, services and organization during the race

Yes — refreshment points along the course offer water, energy supplements, and snacks at regular intervals. If you’re running for the Paolo Chiesi Foundation, you’ll also find a dedicated refreshment point in the charity area at the finish line.

The Relay Marathon and how to participate in solidarity

It’s a team relay format where the official marathon course is split into four legs, each roughly 6.5 to 13 km long. Each team member runs one leg, sharing both the challenge and the joy of supporting a good cause. See the route and how it’s split into legs here.

Absolutely. We’re not looking for elite athletes — just motivated people. The relay is designed to be accessible to everyone, including first-time runners. What matters most is the spirit of solidarity and getting your network involved in fundraising.

Of course! You can enter a company or friends’ team, share the experience, and multiply the impact of your fundraising. Companies can also launch team fundraising campaigns.

Fundraising

Once you’ve registered, you can create your fundraising page on Rete del Dono. Share it with friends, family, and colleagues — every donation goes directly to “A Healthy Start for Burkina Faso.” Your goal is to involve as many people as possible and reach the minimum fundraising target.

Yes, each charity sets a minimum fundraising threshold for every runner or team. The Paolo Chiesi Foundation will let you know the required amount and support you in promoting your fundraiser.

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