The Cinque Mulini IAAF cross country race, in San Vittore, Olona Italy, has seen the likes of Billy Mills, Frank Shorter, Kip Keino, and many other international legends of the running world race its course. Located in Italy, runners have converged for years to race in this town at the foot of the Alps, running through farmlands, cobblestoned streets, and underwater mills.
This July, on the heels of the Olympics, the Cinque Mulini honored Billy Mills with a special “Student Edition” of the race. Dozens of children from across the region came to walk through the five mills (cinque mulini) where runners participate in this international race, and on the same path that Billy raced on decades ago.
The organizers invited Billy Mills to speak to the youth participants and share copies of Billy’s “Wings of an Eagle.”
Later, the community held a fund-raising dinner for Running Strong, which was attended by the leaders of the community, during which they presented Billy with a golden certificate from the city mayor and the civic sports federation.
The proceeds from this special edition of the famed race benefited Running Strong. Billy Mills was honored to attend, and expressed his appreciation…
Dear Friends of the Cinque Mulini and our Running Strong Family,
I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for including me in your event and for your generous donation. It was an honor to support your prestigious race and to spend time with the youth who participated in such a historic and inspiring event. It was truly moving to see young people today participating and following in the footsteps I ran as a young person myself.
What moved me most is seeing how my dream of supporting Native American Youth transcends borders and crosses oceans. Your kindness shows how deeply connected we all are through the spirit of sport and humanity. Your kindness will be forever remembered, and it strengthens the bridge between our cultures, reminding us of the power of solidarity.
Thank you for believing in our mission and for standing with us as we work to empower Native youth.
With heartfelt thanks,
Billy Mills
Olympic Gold Medalist, Tokyo 1964
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