On 20 May 2023, 55 professors, academic and administrative staff representing the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance at the University of Luxembourg joined the crowd of eager runners to participate in the ING Night Marathon and its complementary events. Wearing identical t-shirts, the FDEF team set off for the marathon, semi-marathon, team run and 5K through the streets of Luxembourg for the first time since 2019.
Co-organised by long-time running aficionados Law Professor Elise Poillot and Logistics Supervisor Laurent Goffin, the FDEF, which is the only entity to compete as a team, therefore also represents the University of Luxembourg at the ING Night Marathon. The FDEF has been participating in the event as a team for over a decade.
“When you are running, it doesn’t matter if you are a professor, a PhD student, or an administrative assistant,” says Laurent Goffin. “We are all equals during the race, each of us focusing on pushing our limits and doing our personal best.”
“I like the feeling of us being a team, I am also happy to see that each year people who would not have participated alone in the event join us and are happy to wear the colours of the Faculty of Law Economics and Finance,” adds Elise Poillot.
Aside from the cohesion and team building that the race imparts on its participants, there is also a wider social dimension. Each year, a portion of the participation fee is donated to a local association. In 2019, the Maison du Diabète (Association Luxembourgeoise du Diabète) was chosen as the beneficiary, while this year LUkraine ASBL, a Luxembourg-based non-profit organisation which raises awareness about Ukraine in the EU and around the world, while also providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine will receive a donation.