A senior citizens’ group from Grafarvogur in Reykjavík is taking part in the Reykjavík Marathon to raise funds for their community activities. Twenty-one members of Korpúlfar — a social club for older residents — have signed up to walk three kilometres together on Culture Night, 22 August, collecting pledges to support their volunteer-run programmes.
Key takeaways
- Korpúlfar has around 1,200 members and has operated for close to 25 years, working out of the Borgir community centre in Grafarvogur.
- Twenty-one members registered for the Reykjavík Marathon’s fun-walk category, aiming to complete a 3-kilometre route on Culture Night (22 August).
- By the time the story was reported, the group had already collected roughly 119,000 ISK in pledges — all going directly to volunteer-run club activities.
- The club offers everything from Chinese chess and Canasta to knitting, bocce, darts, and gymnastics — almost entirely free or at minimal cost.
How the Korpúlfar fundraiser at the Reykjavík Marathon works
The idea came from one member of the club’s regular walking group, which already meets three times a week and covers three to four kilometres around the neighbourhood. Ríkharður Brynjólfsson, chair of Korpúlfar, says the logic was simple: the marathon route is basically the same distance they walk anyway, so they figured they could handle it. Twenty-one members signed up, and a larger support group plans to cheer them on from the sidelines.
Participants will travel together from the Borgir community centre in the morning, then make their own way home after the walk. There is no specific fundraising target — the group simply collected pledge commitments and, according to the report, had already reached around 119,000 ISK before the event even took place. All money raised goes directly to the activities and running costs that volunteers manage, because the club charges no membership fees and most of what it offers is free.
Birna Róbertsdóttir, director of Borgir community centre, points to research showing that social contact has measurable positive effects on health and quality of life. She notes that Korpúlfar’s strength comes almost entirely from its volunteers, whose experience and skills are, as she put it, invaluable. The club is growing — demand for its activities keeps increasing — and the fundraiser is partly aimed at expanding the programme and eliminating waiting lists for popular events.
What does Korpúlfar actually do for seniors in Reykjavík?
Quite a lot, it turns out. Ríkharður rattles off the list with obvious amusement: walking groups three times a week, gymnastics at Egilshöll sports centre, darts, bocce, bridge, knitting circles, porcelain painting, and fine-art classes. Recently, 40 people turned up to a Chinese chess course — a game the chair admits he barely knows himself. A Canasta course drew similarly large crowds, and now members play it alongside their regular bridge sessions.
Hot lunch is available at the Borgir centre every day, along with afternoon coffee, and the club holds regular social evenings, a Christmas buffet, and a Þorrablót feast in midwinter. (Þorrablót is a traditional Icelandic midwinter celebration, typically held in January or February, featuring old Scandinavian dishes.) The atmosphere Ríkharður describes is deliberately low-barrier — you show up, find something that suits you, and connect with people. That accessibility is the whole point.
For anyone curious about senior social programmes in Iceland, the City of Reykjavík’s official senior services page gives an overview of the broader support network the municipality provides alongside clubs like Korpúlfar.
Frequently asked questions
What is Korpúlfar and who can join?
Korpúlfar is a senior citizens’ social club based in Grafarvogur, Reykjavík, with roughly 1,200 members. It operates out of the Borgir community centre and charges no membership fees. Most activities are free or cost very little, making it open to a wide range of older residents.
When does the Reykjavík Marathon fun walk take place?
The fun-walk category that Korpúlfar is entering runs on Culture Night — Menningarnótt — on 22 August. Culture Night is an annual Reykjavík event where the city centre fills with free concerts, art exhibitions, and public performances throughout the evening.
How much money has Korpúlfar raised through the marathon pledge drive?
According to the report, the group had collected approximately 119,000 ISK in pledges at the time of writing. There was no set target — every króna raised goes directly to volunteer-run club activities, with the aim of expanding programmes and cutting waiting lists.
