Urgent Run Paris 2024: Running for toilets in Senegal

Today, 60% of the world’s population has no toilet at home and 892 million people worldwide practise open-air defecation as they are deprived of sanitary facilities, with devastating effects on public health, living and working conditions, nutrition, education and economic productivity.

That is why there’s an urgent need for action!

And that’s where Urgent Run Paris comes in. Urgent Run Paris is a humanitarian solidarity event that rallies thousands of participants around an essential cause: funding sanitation programmes in developing countries. This year, the race took place on 16 November 2024.

An essential humanitarian cause: access to healthcare worldwide

Access to clean and safe toilets is a fundamental right, but almost 3.6 billion people in the world are deprived of it. In many parts of the world, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, precarious sanitary conditions are at the root of numerous public health problems, including preventable diseases such as cholera and dysentery. Women and children, in particular, suffer the consequences of a lack of health infrastructure, and this affects their safety, health and education.
Urgent Run Paris’ aim is to combat this scourge by raising funds to finance sanitation programmes, build toilets, provide access to hygiene and run awareness campaigns. Every kilometre covered during the event helps to improve the lives of vulnerable people in isolated areas.

The impact of the Urgent Run: figures for 2024

The results of the 2024 Urgent Run event are more impressive than ever. In fact, 100% of the donations collected during the event go directly to the associations, to finance the construction of sanitary blocks for schools in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin. Thanks to the contributions made by 1,150 participants, we raised €22,500 to fund ambitious projects in the Maka Yop district in Senegal:

• The construction of a block of six latrines with four cubicles and the installation of hand-washing facilities
• The construction of a 5 m3 water tank
• The construction of a block of three classrooms
• Distribution of solar kits to children

HAPPEE Services’ role as a committed partner

HAPPEE Services is fully committed to the humanitarian cause supported by Urgent Run Paris. This year, HAPPEE Services provided mobile sanitary facilities (cubicles, male and female urinals) to ensure optimum comfort for participants.

HAPPEE Services supports sanitation programmes in developing countries by offering its services free of charge. This partnership is a prime example of corporate social responsibility, in which HAPPEE’s commitment goes far beyond mere logistics.

Urgent Run Paris is an opportunity to show that every gesture counts. Whether you’re a runner, a donor or just a supporter, your participation makes a difference. Thanks to the commitment of the participants, partners like HAPPEE and associations, this race has become much more than a sporting event: it embodies hope and change for thousands of people who still do not have access to decent toilets.

Read what our Chairman has to say: “It was without hesitation and we were delighted to join forces with Urgent Run. The primary aim of WC Loc and Happee Services is to make hygiene accessible to everyone, everywhere. It seems inconceivable to us that humanitarian disasters should occur because of a lack of toilets. I strongly believe that it’s important and urgent for everyone to take action, within their means, to do something good for everyone in the world. It is through effort that we make progress: company employees, customers and suppliers are all individuals who can contribute to the cause in a very positive way. They’ll be sweating to support the cause!”