'Chestnut Run' event held in Kyiv

The traditional annual "Chestnut Run" was held on Kyiv Day, May 28. This year, the event was held for the 30th time.

The Ukrinform team joined the campaign, according to the agency's correspondent.

"We had a small team of ambassadors. There were doctors and there were military, there were representatives of the State Emergency Service. In general, there were all those who save lives: doctors save in operating rooms, soldiers - at the front, and State Emergency Service – deep behind front lines," said Iryna Kuznietsova, the initiator and organizer of the event.

This year, more than 7,000 participants made charitable contributions. More than 100 corporate teams were formed. The largest one includes 650 participants.

"After last night [Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 54 Iranian Shahed-136/131 attack drones early on May 28], I had no doubt that we would gather and conduct this run. In the morning, we had more than 7,000 registered people. About 100 people have become our ambassadors. We got together and held this run, and the children met us at the finish line with a wonderful concert," Kuznietsova said.

The ambassador of the run, Andriy Dzhedzhula, said everyone interested still has an opportunity to take part in the event, because registration has been extended until the end of May. "You can join this run today, on Kyiv Day, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. In short, until the end of May you can register and make your contribution with your charity run. Remember that this year we are collecting funds not only for the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine," he said.

The participants in the event ran for the sake of young patients of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Their goal is to collect UAH 1 million for the institution's needs. Another recipient of charitable aid this year is the SMART Medical Aid charity fund, which launched the project "100 Ambulances for Ukraine". The task is to raise funds for ambulances to transport the wounded in war zones or frontline zones.

Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko, Ukrainian doctors, defenders who are currently in Kyiv, and soldiers who are far from the capital also joined the campaign. The event brought together people from all over the world. Participants from Slovenia, Austria, Canada, the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom and other countries joined the sports charity event.

Due to martial law, the participants in the sports event did not gather at the same location and at the same time. They joined the run online and went for a run or walk in a safe place.

Ukrinform is the information partner of the campaign.

In 2022, under martial law, the participants in the 29th "Chestnut Run" also did not gather at a single location. Back then, 2,203 participants from 80 cities and towns across the country, as well as Ukrainians and foreigners from 31 countries worldwide, registered to participate in the campaign. Thanks to their contributions, UAH 510,000 was collected for the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. In 2021, about 11,000 people registered for the "Chestnut Run" charity event.