Debrecen4U April 17, 2026

Daffodil Run Held Again for Human Dignity

The daffodil is a global symbol of organisations caring for cancer patients. After 2017, the Daffodil Running Festival was organised again this year in Debrecen to raise awareness of respect for human dignity and to show compassion for those living with incurable illnesses. More than a thousand children and teachers from Debrecen joined the event, running a lap of the stadium in yellow T-shirts.

The Daffodil Run started at the Great Forest Stadium on 16 April. Almost everyone wore yellow T-shirts symbolising the daffodil. “I think it’s very exciting and really great that programmes like this can be experienced here, and it also builds community,” said Hanga Tikász.

Two kindergartens, sixteen primary schools and eleven secondary schools registered for the Daffodil Running Festival. More than a thousand children and teachers attended to jointly raise awareness of the importance of human dignity.

“Paying attention to one another is independent of age, and respect for human life as well as experiencing loss appear in the lives of both younger pupils and kindergarten children. It is therefore unavoidable to face these experiences. I believe it is important to talk about this, as with everything else, within the framework of school life. That is why it was important for us to take part in today’s event,” emphasised Katalin Pethő, headteacher of Lilla Tér Primary School.

The Field of Dignity Programme was launched in 2007 by the Debrecen Hospice Foundation. This year, after a nine-year break, the initiative was organised again in Debrecen. The aim of the programme is to draw attention to the idea that every moment of life is valuable, and that shared physical activity can connect people regardless of age or background. “The Daffodil Running Festival was actually the idea of a student. When we were looking for creative programme ideas that could build a sense of community among school-aged children—from primary to secondary level—who want to support one another and understand how important caring is in today’s world,” highlighted Gyöngyi Porkoláb, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Debrecen Hospice Foundation.

This run was not about competition, but about solidarity, empathy and compassion. “The aim is not for someone to win the race, but for participants to hold each other’s hands if needed, to help and support one another, and to complete this short lap together in the spirit of support, empathy and compassion,” pointed out Mayor László Papp.

The running festival was only one element of the Field of Dignity Programme. In the morning, institutions organised their own group physical activities in their local environments, with more than seven thousand people taking part.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu