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Route au cœur des montagnes arides symbolisant le projet Courir pour Unir, traversée européenne de 4200 km contre l’indifférence

Beyond Borders

Monaco to Ukraine

A journey across Europe to create connection and fight indifference.

In brief

Logo of the Courir pour Unir / Beyond Borders / Laufen ohne Grenzen project, depicting a runner crossing Europe. This symbol represents a unique ultra-endurance challenge of over 4,200 km from Monaco to Ukraine, led by Frédéric Splendore, carrying a powerful message of peace, solidarity, and unity beyond borders.

Beyond Borders is a European ultra-endurance crossing linking Monaco to Ukraine.

Through this challenge, I use running as a vehicle for connection, encounter and solidarity, to stand against indifference and support humanitarian and social causes.

This project aims to go beyond athletic performance to question how we connect with others, with territories, and with the living world.

The athletic challenge

• 4,200 km in ultra-endurance
• Approximately 50 consecutive days of effort
• 2 phases · 1 crossing · 13 countries

• Phase 1 — Via Alpina (West → East)

Across the Alps · 2,000 km · 110,000 m D+ · Target: 25 days

→ On average, 80 km and 4,500 m D+ per day
→ Current reference: 35 days, completed westbound

Phase 2 — Eastern Europe (roads/trails)

Across 6 countries · 2,200 km · 30,000 m elevation gain

→ On average, 88 km and 1,200 m D+ per day

• A challenge combining performance, logistics, and commitment

Carte du parcours du projet Courir pour Unir, montrant la traversée de l’Europe à pied de Monaco à l’Ukraine.

I particularly appreciate running routes that can be seen from the stars.

From up there, you can dream. Dream of a healed Earth, with people living in peace, helping one another, and animals being respected.

So here is my idea: to use my physical condition to take on one of the toughest routes in the world, extend it across Europe, and connect people around a message of peace, mutual support, and solidarity.

Au-delà de l’Effort
(non-profit association)

Logo de l'Association Au-delà de l'effort, qui soutient des causes humanitaires, environnementales, protection des animaux et de santé mentale.

Au-delà de l’Effort is an association that uses endurance sports and challenges of self-transcendence as tools to promote messages of solidarity and support causes of public interest.

Through committed sporting projects, it aims to raise awareness, bring people together, and mobilize support for humanitarian, environmental, animal protection, and health-related initiatives.

The association oversees these initiatives with transparency and ensures that the largest possible share of the funds raised is directed to the causes it supports.

Ancre aventure collective

A collective journey

Courir pour Unir 2026, projet de Frédéric Splendore : Une aventure collective, portée par le partage et le mouvement

This project exists above all thanks to the people who chose to believe in it. Through their encouragement, financial support, logistical help, equipment, expertise, or simply by sharing the project with others, they have made this crossing a reality.

I will be the one covering every kilometre between Monaco and Ukraine, but this journey has never been an individual project. My hope is that it will continue to be carried by a community of people—by inspiring others to join the route, share the project with those around them, and, if they wish, contribute to the solidarity fundraising campaign in support of the people of Ukraine.

Everyone is welcome to be part of the journey. Whether you would like to run or walk a few kilometres, share a meal, have a conversation, or simply cheer from the roadside, every encounter will give this adventure even greater meaning.

To make it easier to meet along the way, the live GPS tracking map and the planned stages of the crossing are available on this page.

Give meaning to the effort

By establishing a solid and sustainable framework for the project, athletic effort becomes a lever for solidarity. The aim is to turn this crossing into a platform for mobilization and fundraising, in support of a clear humanitarian cause: helping the Ukrainian population.

 

Ukraine lies at the heart of the European continent. It is one of Europe’s agricultural breadbaskets, and we depend every day — even in Western Europe — on what it produces to feed us. Beyond these economic and territorial ties, millions of people are still living with the direct consequences of the conflict.

 

The funds raised as part of the project will be donated to Swiss Solidarity, through the Au-delà de l’Effort (non profit association), in order to support:

​​​​

  • the rehabilitation of destroyed buildings,

  • assistance to displaced people,

  • access to education and healthcare.

Ancre Soutenir le projet

THANK YOU

This project would never have become a reality without all the people, companies and organisations who chose to believe in it.

Thank you to everyone who provided financial support, donated equipment, shared their expertise, dedicated their time, made vehicles available, offered logistical assistance, or simply helped spread the word about the project.

Every contribution—regardless of its form or size—has helped turn an idea into a real adventure.

On behalf of the entire team, thank you for your trust, your generosity, and your commitment. This crossing belongs to you as much as it belongs to us.

FR Evolution budget projet fin juillet.png

Now that the project's logistical budget has been fully secured, all donations for the beneficiary organisation are collected through the non-profit association Au-delà de l'Effort, which ensures the transparent management of the initiative.

A small portion of the funds raised helps cover the association's operating costs and project-related expenses, while the vast majority of donations (95% or more) is transferred to the Swiss Solidarity (Chaîne du Bonheur) fund supporting the people of Ukraine.

The pillars

Beyond Borders was born from the desire to go beyond athletic performance and turn it into a tool for connection, reflection, and commitment. Through this crossing, I aim to question how we connect with others, with territories, and with the living world.

Inner peace

Turning long effort into a space for perspective, listening, and recentring — as a starting point for reaching out to others.

Connection and encounter

Creating dialogue, sparking encounters, and encouraging sharing and solidarity along the kilometers and territories crossed.

Environmental responsibility

Moving forward with awareness and restraint, questioning how we live, use resources, and move through the landscapes around us.

Respect for the living world

Taking a broader view of our coexistence with other forms of life, the space we leave them within the ecosystems we share, and the coherence of our everyday choices. In this spirit, the project will be carried out following a vegetarian diet.

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© Frédéric Splendore — All rights reserved

Ultra-endurance runner — "Beyond Borders" project

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