The Ministry of National Defence (MApN) announced on Wednesday the start of the 13th edition of the Invictus Veterans Relay, which will take place between 1 and 25 October.

'On Thursday, the Invictus Veterans Relay sets off for its 13th edition. Initiated in 2014 by Invictus Romania volunteers, the project has grown year after year, bringing together communities from across the country around a common mission: keeping alive the memory of Romania's heroes and promoting national values through volunteering and sport,' the Ministry of National Defence said in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

The official start will take place at the Heroes of the Nation Monument, in front of the 'Carol I' National Defence University in Bucharest. Participants are expected from 8.15 am, with the opening ceremony scheduled to begin at 8.30 am.

The first three stages will set off together, symbolically carrying the three relay batons in the colours of the national flag - blue, yellow and red. The runners will follow the route from the Heroes of the Nation Monument to Elisabeta Palace, where they will be welcomed by Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown, and His Royal Highness Prince Radu, the source said.

From Elisabeta Palace, the three relays will split up and continue their journeys across the country: the Blue Route towards Pitesti, the Yellow Route towards Targoviste and the Red Route towards Lehliu Gara.

Between 1 and 25 October, Invictus volunteers, serving and reserve military personnel, veterans, military personnel wounded in theatres of operations, athletes, university students, school pupils, teachers and members of local communities will carry the relay batons, running or cycling, over thousands of kilometres, the Ministry of National Defence said.

Along each of the three routes, participants will stop at monuments and cemeteries dedicated to fallen heroes, where moments of remembrance and symbolic relay handover ceremonies will take place.

'The names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for Romania are inscribed on the monuments encountered along the way. The Veterans Relay symbolically brings them back to the attention of communities and brings together those who choose not to forget,' the press release reads.

After thousands of kilometres through villages and towns, across plains and mountains, the three routes will come together in Carei on 25 October, Romania's Armed Forces Day, a location of particular significance in the memory of the liberation of the national territory in 1944.

'The Veterans Relay is built year after year through volunteering. Since 2014, people from across the country have joined the project, choosing to run, cycle, organise, support or simply welcome the relay when it reaches their community. This year too, participation is open to everyone. Those who wish to join can complete an entire stage, run or cycle just a few kilometres or come to welcome and encourage the volunteers along the route,' the Ministry of National Defence said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Stoica; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)