Almost 1,000 participants and a record set: the largest charity event “RUN 4 VICTORY” in Cherkasy
On September 15, 2024, Cherkasy hosted the largest charity event within the “RUN 4 VICTORY” League of Races in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The event united almost 1,000 participants in various distances in support of the 118th Territorial Defense Brigade.
They gathered UAH 659 thousand via the event activities, runners’ registration fees, and charitable donations. All the funds will be allocated to the needs of the military protecting Ukraine on the front line.
It is the third race held by MHP and MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation in partnership with the “Character” Sports Community this year. The events are intended to raise funds to support Ukrainian defenders and promote a healthy lifestyle. The event united amateur and professional runners from all over Ukraine, who competed at 21, 10, 5, and 2 km distances. The youngest participants ran children’s distances – 200, 400, and 800 meters.
Event in Cherkasy was the first one to offer an inclusive 2 km long track for participants with musculoskeletal disorders. The route was designed so that all participants could run together to prove their unity and support.
A special event was the setting of a Ukrainian record. Andriy Hrechanyi, a firefighter rescuer from Poltava, ran a half-marathon in full firefighting gear, weighing more than 20 kg. He dedicated the race to Mykola Nechyporenko, his colleague from the Dnipropetrovsk State Emergency Service, who died of severe injuries on June 22. This achievement was put in the Book of Records of Ukraine in the nomination “The Greatest Weight of a Firefighter Rescuer Gear in the Half-Marathon Distance (21.1 km)”.
Oleksandr Voskoboynik, the head of the MHP Central Hub, expressed his gratitude to all the participants of the event:
“There are no losers in our races, you are all the winners! You all have become a single body supporting and inspiring our defenders to fight! This is an opportunity to get a self-victory and prove that Ukrainians have the strength and character!”
A lot of veterans participated in the race. One of them, Oleksiy Demkiv, ran 10 km despite his war injuries. Another participant, Serhiy Priadka, who lost his leg in the action, ran the race on a prosthesis and inspired others with his indomitableness.
Following the sports event, all participants could join a charity lottery with a chance to win electric scooters, children’s and adult bicycles, gift certificates, and other prizes.
RUN 4 VICTORY has already been held in Ternopil and Vinnytsia. Its next stages are planned to be in Ladyzhyn (October 6) and Kyiv (October 27).