The hill is a real landmark, with runners breaking time records every year as part of the Night Run to Calvary event, which is reported in the media. Of course, only the names of the winners get any publicity. Who is the winner? If you ask me, I saw at least 28 of them at the last run.
The Maribor Hearing and Speech Centre, a school for children with special needs, is located near Kalvarija. Children who are in reality no different from other children. They are lively, mischievous and very curious. They are also persistent and stubborn, if only given the chance to reach for the stars. Although few people believe it, in sports lessons children often climb all 454 steps and forget that they should be tired while chasing the top.
The Calvary Run would therefore be a great opportunity for them too! But how will society take it? And how will they, who are not used to "society", participate? Those who do not try will never know.
"Hey, we're going to Calvary!" I shouted through the school corridors like their sports teacher. I got a lot of sneering looks, saying - ours won't be running anymore. Who is going to take them there? And who will run with them? How will they stand the noise and the crowd? Ah, it is not feasible for "ours".
The event organiser Klemen Tasič was a bit surprised by the entries, but did not hesitate for a moment. Not only that, but even though all the places for the children's run, which was on the programme before the adults' run, were taken, he said he would open as many more places as there were children who wanted to sign up!
It was Friday. It was already starting to get late, and the night was showing its power in all its glory. And it was showing for 28 children who, for the first time in their lives, had the opportunity to take part in an event like this. I expected there to be a lot of people. 370 to be precise.
"Where do we sign up? Where do we get our starting numbers? When do our competitors compete?" I had no idea. Because, like everyone else, it was my first time at the event. Of course, I didn't admit it to the frightened childish eyes and somehow we managed to get everything sorted and made it to the start line.
Lights, music, cheerleaders, an announcer, athletics coaches pushing their athletes forward with stopwatches in hand to make the best time possible... 170 children, 28 of them ours.
They had a delayed start to allow each of them to shine. Oh, yes, they did! Adrenaline filled every last vein in their body, there was no room for fear. The crowd disappeared, the noise disappeared, everyone was their own star under the spotlight.
One of the girls held my hand tightly at the start. I could feel her excitement. The starter dropped the flag, the crowd started cheering... I had never seen her run like that before. Her fingers, pale from the grip of my hand, persevered until she reached the finish line, where she received her medal first. A smile spread across her mouth and she proudly exclaimed, "Look, I got a medal! I came first!" Yes, she was the winner. Her and at least 27 other children. They were all winners!
They didn't just beat the stairs - they beat themselves. They proved it to themselves, to their parents, to me, to the people around them - they proved it to the world! That they are nothing different. That borders are just records in our minds. That they can move them if we let them! If only we give them a chance, if we value and respect their uniqueness, their unique ways of overcoming obstacles and achieving success.
Every child is born with wings. Our task is to accept him as he is, to find the side of the horizon, the right wind, on which he will rest his wings and fly out into the world, with a firm belief in himself that he knows and can fly.
Nuša Maver, 5. 2. 2025
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