MainНовиниHow the robot-dog ran in Kyiv in support of the military: a report from the Run4Victory race
How the robot-dog ran in Kyiv in support of the military: a report from the Run4Victory race
On October 27, 2024, the final race of the Run4Victory series was held on Trukhaniv Island, Kyiv, where almost a thousand participants gathered. The event united military, civilians, children, and even technological innovations for the sole purpose of supporting the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. The race was organized by MHP International Company, MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation, and the sports community “Character”.
This year has become a landmark for MHP as it is our first such large-scale project, which has allowed us to write our name into the history of charity races. Five cities – five races – and five military units were supported thanks to the efforts of our employees and participants. The project united not only the company but also thousands of concerned people. Many of our employees joined the racing events for the first time which became not only a sports achievement but also an incentive for them to continue supporting our army even more actively.
The race was held along the classic route around Trukhaniv Island, which was well known to most participants. Participants ran distances of 2, 5, and 10 km on asphalt paths, with the start and finish in the same place. Those who chose the 21.1 km distance had to take the three-laps route with hydration points every 4 km.
Trukhaniv Island was the perfect location for this event as it combined peace and picturesqueness with excellent conditions for running – both for fans of roads and trails.
Olha Oleynyk, operational director of Character Sport and Spartan Ukraine
More than 100 military personnel of the National Guard of Ukraine racing together with civilians was a real inspiration for all participants proving that the support of the army is important not only on the battlefield but also on the home front.
Run4Victory has proven that the unity of military and civilians allows us to achieve incredible results. In 2024, the races were held in five cities of Ukraine – Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, and Ladyzhyn, and the year ended with the final race in Kyiv. Active participation and support of concerned citizens allowed us to collect more than UAH 2 million for the needs of our military. This aid is already allocated to meet the crucial needs of the front-line defenders. We are not going to rest, though. Next year, we will embark on this movement with renewed strength as our common struggle continues and will continue as long as it is needed.
Oleksandr Pakholiuk, Director of MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation
A unique race event was the participation of a robot dog from the Khartiia reconnaissance unit, which ran a distance of 2 km together with other participants. This technical assistant is a truly innovative solution capable of climbing stairs, carrying loads of up to 10 kg, and moving at a speed of up to 12.5 km/h, it also reduces the risks affecting our defenders’ lives.
Andriy Hrechanyi, an officer from the Poltava State Emergency Service of Ukraine, took part in the race in Kyiv. At the previous Run4Victory race held in Cherkasy, he set a record by running 21 km in full gear in memory of his fallen brother-in-arms. This time he also took a distance of 21 km.
When all the participants came to the finish line, there was a charity auction, during which considerable funds were collected. The most expensive lot was a shell case sold for UAH 13 thousand. A total of almost UAH 800,000 was collected during the event, which will be donated to meet the needs of the military.
Apart from the auction, there were several more unique lots raffled on the stage including the author’s photos of the outstanding Ukrainian photographer Serhiy Mykhalchuk taken for the Paris Olympic Games within the “The Will to Win” project. The photos feature autographs of outstanding athletes as well as of Serhiy Mykhalchuk, the photo artist.
The “The Will to Win” project was created at the initiative of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the National Olympic Committee, the Association “Watch Ukrainian!” and supported by MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation with the assistance of the Ukrainian World Congress.
Thus, each participant could not only take part in a sports event but also donate to support the army. The race was the final stage of the Run4Victory series in 2024. The organizing parties are already preparing for the new 2025 season and invite everyone to join future events. Run4Victory event once again proved that sports, technology, and unity are of great importance and contribute significantly to the support of the Ukrainian army.