Runners, lace up: the one-of-a-kind charity marathon that has raised over €5.4 million for disadvantaged children since 1999 is making its return to Monaco this month.
No Finish Line Monaco is set to take place from November 15th to 23rd, under the high patronage of Princess Charlene, with this year’s goal being to attract 14,000 participants. Runners and walkers of all abilities are welcome to complete as many laps as they wish around the 1,140-metre circuit of the Chapiteau de Fontvieille.
For every kilometre covered, the charity Children & Future will donate one euro to projects supporting sick or disadvantaged children, with this year’s target being to collectively cover 325,000 kilometres and raise €325,000.
Since its inception, nearly 190,000 participants have taken part, covering more than 5.1 million kilometres combined.
How it works
The eight day non-stop event begins at 2pm on November 15th and runs continuously until 2pm on November 23rd. Every participant receives a tracking chip before they start to record their distance and can return to the circuit as many times as they like throughout the week.
The course remains open 24 hours a day, with 30 volunteers providing support and refreshments available throughout. Registration for adults is €15, plus a €10 chip deposit. For children over 10 the price drops to €8 (plus the chip deposit).
The event’s highlights
Towards the end of the eight day event, a 24-hour trophy challenge is set to take place from 9am on November 2nd to 9am on November 23rd, while 40 ultra-runners will attempt the full eight day challenge. The men’s individual record stands at 1,041 kilometres, set in 2012, while the women’s record is 924 kilometres. One team has also previously covered 27,512 kilometres.
A notable thing to remember is that in line with environmental commitments introduced in 2021, the event has banned disposable cups. Participants must bring their own containers or purchase reusable bottles for €1 on site.
Additionally, physiotherapists and medical professionals will be available throughout the event to provide care for participants.
Registration is open until November 11th at www.childrenandfuture.com or on-site from 10am on November 15th.
Monaco hosted the first Summit of Ancestral Wisdom on October 3oth, where Indigenous leaders and international institutions launched a new ethical framework aimed at reshaping environmental education and governance.
The events, which took place at the Méridien Beach Plaza Hotel, marked the official unveiling of the Ethical Code of Respect 360°, created by Brazilian filmmaker Isabella Vieira. The summit opened with a Sacred Fire Ceremony attended by Indigenous leaders.
Wanka Inti, Grand Spiritual Counsellor of the Andes, and Witxo Fulni-ô, representing five Brazilian Indigenous peoples, participated in person. Leaders from Mexico and the Brazilian Amazon joined remotely.
During the fire ceremony, photo by: NAWA SIA AMAZONIA ALLIANCE
In a major development, the University of Cambridge will incorporate the Ethical Code into its academic programs, with other international universities set to follow.
Cindy Forde, a Cambridge collaborator, argued that the move addresses shortcomings in how future leaders are prepared. After 30 years of climate conferences with inadequate outcomes, she said a different approach is needed.
“We can no longer be content with training elites who know how to decide. We must train leaders who know how to respect,” she said.
She explained that the Ethical Code should be taught throughout education systems, from primary schools to universities.
Amazon university plans
Plans were also unveiled for a University of the Forest in the Amazon, developed jointly with Chief Ninawa Inu Huni Kui. The institution will focus on Indigenous wisdom and protecting the natural world.
Isabella Vieira, who heads the Monaco-based NA WA SIA Amazonia Alliance, will lead the initiative.
She reframed the environmental emergency as a completely human problem. “It is not the planet that is in crisis — it is humanity,” she said. “The Earth always shows us the path to regeneration. The real question is: will we know how to become once again a people of the Earth?
Wanka Inti, who took part in the opening ceremony, offered: “When we walk with our ancestors, we are never alone.”
Wanka Inti during the opening ceremony, photo credit: NAWA SIA AMAZONIA ALLIANCE
Official backing
Fabrice Notari, President of the Commission for External Relations of the National Council of Monaco, attended the summit, demonstrating official support from the Principality.
The Kate Powers Foundation also backed the initiative through representative Karen Bond.
She connected the work to Powers’ legacy: “Kate Powers dedicated her life to bringing people together around consciousness, kindness, and respect for all living beings. What opened today in Monaco continuous that path — one where heart, truth, and commitment become forces of transformation.”
The Ethical Code is designed to serve as a framework for institutions, educational systems, and a guide for those making economic and political decisions. Its architects say it will bridge modern governance with Indigenous knowledge systems that have safeguarded ecosystems across generations.
Witxo Fulni-ô expressed confidence in Vieira’s leadership: “We represent the union of five peoples of Brazil, and she carries our voice where we cannot be heard.”
A new movement called ‘Yes Women Monaco’ has just launched in Monaco with plans to change how charities gain visibility and funding. Adapting to the modern world, they aim to use the power and reach of social media, with their inaugural gala already scheduled for December 1st at La Môme Monte-Carlo.
The initiative, founded by Nicole Dionne and Sophie Girone, will honour two female charity founders each year while implementing an innovative “one woman, one euro” fundraising model.
“Yes Women Monaco is an innovative movement to honour and to give the possibility for two associations to have visibility all year around,” Dionne told Monaco Life.
The initiative operates on three levels: an annual gala recognising one Monaco-based and one international female founder; a year-long social media campaign promoting their causes, and a viral fundraising drive asking for just one euro per person.
“We said to ourselves – perhaps we can find a way through social media, because there are many women and girls with a lot of followers,” Dionne explained. “We figure if we ask them for one euro, it’s not a lot, and after a year, maybe we can raise more money than by just having a celebration.”
This year: the fight against AIDS
For its inaugural year, Yes Women Monaco focuses on AIDS. The December 1st gala, held on World AIDS Day, will honour Princess Stéphanie of Monaco for Fight Aids Monaco, which she founded over 20 years ago to support people living with HIV, and Christien Roos for Penduka in Namibia.
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco for Fight Aids Monaco, photo provided.
“Today, 53 per cent of people living with HIV are either women or girls,” said Christophe Glasser from Fight Aids Monaco at the press conference. “An adolescent girl has three times more risk of being affected by HIV than an adolescent boy at the same age.”
Penduka, meaning “wake up”, was founded in 1992 by Dutch occupational therapist Christien Roos and Namibian Martha Muulyau. The association helps women build independence through learning crafts after being excluded from their communities due to HIV, tuberculosis and other illnesses. Beginning with nine women, it now has 320 females learning skills, with a total of 500 having used what they learned to establish themselves in their villages.
“Even if they’re excluded from their community, they take back possession of their lives,” Dionne said.
Small donations with big impact
Rather than expensive galas, Yes Women Monaco bets on viral giving. “We all have contacts on Instagram, between one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand, sometimes a million,” said Sophie Girone. “If everyone just gives one euro, we’ll manage to raise a substantial sum.”
The December 1st gala itself costs 200 euros – deliberately affordable for Monaco – with two thirds of restaurant proceeds going to the associations. “Most events in Monaco are always at quite high prices,” Girone noted. “So we said: we’re going to do a meal that’s not too sumptuous.”
An extraordinary event bringing together 150 children facing difficult life circumstances has unfolded in the Var, as ‘C’est Eux les Champions’ returned for its fifth and most impactful edition yet — with the support of racing drivers, first responders, local businesses, Camille Gottlieb and Arthur Leclerc – two prominent figures of Monaco’s new generation who are quickly becoming known not just for their famous names, but for their growing commitment to social causes.
Created in 2019 by Monaco businessman Philippe Demanet and his partner Marie Dubos, C’est Eux les Champions — ‘They Are the Champions’ — began with a simple mission: to bring joy to children who face difficult realities, be it through illness or challenging home lives. What started with just 20 participants has grown into a major annual gathering. This year, on Tuesday 28th October, 150 children took part in a high-octane, emotion-filled day designed to celebrate their strength and give them memories to last a lifetime.
“The goal is simple,” organiser Philippe Demanet told Monaco Life’s Cassandra Tanti, “to make them smile, to bring them all together so no one feels different. For one day, they’re all just kids, all here to have fun.”
From the thunder of sports cars and the hum of a superbike, to fire brigade demonstrations and one-on-one time with police officers trying on official gear, the day was packed with activities — all tailored to make every child feel like a champion.
Camille and Arthur: star power with heart
For the first time, Camille Gottlieb and Arthur Leclerc, two of Monaco’s most recognisable young figures, served as honorary godparents of the event. Their involvement brought a wave of star quality — but more importantly, heartfelt engagement.
“For us, it is just one day,” said Camille, “but for these kids, it is perhaps the most wonderful day of the year. I think it is very important to be here with Arthur, as godparents of the event. If I can spread love wherever I am, I am happy.”
The event began with a spirited lap of the Circuit du Var, where Arthur — Monegasque racing driver and younger brother of F1 star Charles Leclerc — took Camille for a spin in a classic Ferrari 308 GTB. “It was good for him,” she joked afterwards, “not so much for me because I don’t like speed and I was a little scared. But he’s a great driver, so it was all good.”
Arthur, who immediately committed to the event after being invited by Camille, said he felt deeply moved by the children he met throughout the day. “It is such a pleasure to see so many kids here enjoying the day — perhaps the most exciting day of their life. I don’t think many of them have been in a race car, so just showing them what it’s like on track, explaining what happens in the car, that’s really special.
“It touches me quite a bit to see all these kids smiling and happy, despite everything they may be going through.”
A track filled with horsepower — and heart
This year’s event saw 36 cars take part, from Porsche and McLaren to Alpine, Lotus, BMW and smaller sportscars donated for the day by passionate drivers. Arthur’s Ferrari came courtesy of Garage Virage-C, while long-time supporters like Team FJM with Alpine, Dominique Demeyer with a Porsche 911, and Jeremy Debels with his group of volunteer drivers returned once more to lend their wheels.
Motorbike stunt rider Thibaut Nogues brought an extra jolt of adrenaline, and the Monaco Supercars garage is always on hand with Porsches for the special event. Riviera Security, a loyal partner of the event, ensured safety on-site.
Crucially, the day’s energy was not just about speed — it was also about community. The local fire brigade and police forces thrilled the children with uniformed demonstrations and personal interaction, and actor Sofian Ribes, star of Un Petit Truc en Plus, brought warmth and humour to the day.
Generosity without borders
The event’s success is built not on corporate sponsorship, but on collective goodwill. From Leclerc supermarket and McDonald’s in Le Luc donating food and drinks, to the Mercure Brignoles Golf de Barbaroux & Spa offering accommodation, support flowed in from all directions. YouTubers such as Adyx Clubsport and Lucas Verbier helped spread awareness, and charities like Les Enfants de Frankie and Le Pirate Blanc helped bring the children to the track.
The success of the day was made possible by the dedication of countless volunteers and supporters who worked quietly behind the scenes to bring it all together. As Philippe Demanet put it, “We can’t forget the incredible smiles of the children — they are the true champions of life — and that’s what this day is all about.”
As the engines cooled and the children departed, hearts full and smiles lingering, C’est Eux les Champions was a reminder of joy, resilience, and the power of showing up, even if only for one day.
European digital asset exchange zondacrypto has taken a major step into the American market with the announcement that its U.S. entity, BB Trade Florida Inc., has been granted a money services business (MSB) licence by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The licence, issued under Chapter 560 of the Florida Statutes, authorises the company to engage in money transmission activities, including the transmission of virtual currencies.
The move marks the company’s first U.S. regulatory foothold and a significant milestone in zondacrypto’s strategy to expand beyond its well-established European base.
A decade of experience enters the U.S. arena
“With the rapid advancement of regulation in the space, we expect the digital asset industry to boom in the U.S. over the next few years,” said Przemysław Kral, CEO of zondacrypto. “We are incredibly excited to bring our deep expertise in the space to offer the American customer a highly innovative and compliant service based on over a decade of experience operating in other regulated jurisdictions.”
Kral added that the company’s next focus will be meeting federal requirements and securing additional state authorisations in order to expand across the United States.
According to a company statement, BB Trade Florida Inc. will operate in full compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements, including AML/KYC, transaction monitoring, and consumer protection policies. The company says it also maintains appropriate registration with FinCEN, where applicable.
Florida first, more states to follow
Services will begin in Florida, with plans to expand into additional U.S. jurisdictions as licences and regulatory clearances are obtained. Florida residents can verify the company’s status on the OFR’s ‘Verify a License’ public portal by searching for BB Trade Florida Inc.
From Monaco to Miami: sports partnerships continue to define the brand
Though now expanding in the U.S., zondacrypto remains closely tied to Europe, particularly the fintech hubs of Estonia, Monaco, Switzerland, and Italy. The company is also known for its high-profile sponsorships across the world of sport.
The brand’s current portfolio includes partnerships with Serie A football clubs such as Atalanta BC, Bologna FC, and Parma Calcio 1913, as well as iconic cycling events like the Giro d’Italia, Strade Bianche, and Milano-Sanremo. Motorsport also plays a central role, with ambassadors including Valtteri Bottas, Arthur Leclerc, and Tiffany Cromwell, alongside title sponsorship of the global women’s cycling team Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto.
