On May 28, a charity “Chestnut Run” took place in Prague’s Stromovka Park, bringing together Ukrainians, Czechs, and friends of Ukraine around a shared goal — supporting children with congenital heart defects.

The event was part of the 33rd International Chestnut Run and was held within the framework of the Czech Republic–Ukraine Unity Week, organized by the UA NEXT project with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Czech Republic.

Participants completed a 5-kilometer route through Stromovka Park and joined a fundraising campaign to purchase a video laryngoscope for the Ukrainian Ministry of Health’s Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. The event united people whose hometowns include Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Lutsk, Cherkasy, and many others.

For more than 30 years, the Chestnut Run has remained one of Ukraine’s best-known charitable initiatives, bringing people together across the world to support children’s health. Today, such events carry special significance, as they not only help raise funds for essential medical equipment but also strengthen the connection between Ukrainians abroad and their homeland while fostering international solidarity around important social causes.

On June 4, 2026, a press conference was held at the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, during which the results of the 33rd charity Chestnut Run were announced.

During the event, the project team presented the Center with two symbolic checks. The first, totaling UAH 2,400,000, was raised thanks to thousands of participants, teams, partners, and supporters who joined the 33rd Chestnut Run. The second check, worth UAH 580,000, came from an anonymous donor who made one of the largest individual contributions in the history of the Run’s online format.

As a result, the total amount transferred to the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery reached UAH 2,980,000.

This year’s Run also set a new online participation record. Despite martial law and ongoing security challenges, more than 10,000 participants from Ukraine and around the world joined the charity initiative—the highest number recorded since the event moved online.

The funds raised will be used to purchase a modern video laryngoscope for the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care for Newborns at the Center.

This equipment is critically important for treating children with congenital heart defects and complex airway anatomy. A video laryngoscope allows doctors to clearly visualize patients’ airways during procedures, act with maximum precision, reduce the risk of complications, and ensure safer medical interventions even in the most challenging cases.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Chestnut Run was held online for safety reasons. Participants completed the symbolic distance wherever convenient while remaining united by a common goal—to help the Center’s young patients.

We thank Kylimmen, ambassador of sport and victories and a member of the Kalush Orchestra, for supporting the 33rd “Run Under the Chestnuts”.

This year, Kylimmen joined the ambassadors’ старт and presented awards to participants who completed the symbolic distance in support of little hearts.

True victories are not about sporting achievements, but about saving children’s lives.

Thank you for your support, your care, and your belief that together we can achieve more.

On May 31, the 33rd annual charitable “Chestnut Run” took place on the 1,544th birthday of Kyiv. For 34 years, this largest sports and charity initiative in Ukraine has been bringing people together to help save little hearts.

This year, the Run was held online for the fifth time to ensure participants’ safety amid the ongoing full-scale war. Yet neither distance, borders, nor thousands of kilometers prevented people around the world from joining the start line for a shared cause — supporting young patients of the Center.

More than 10,000 participants and 143 corporate teams joined the 33rd Chestnut Run worldwide. Registration and charitable donations are still ongoing.

Participants completed the symbolic 5-kilometer distance at their own pace — running, walking, and taking part with families, teams, and communities across Ukraine and around the globe.

Every year, well-known Ukrainians — actors, TV hosts, musicians, influencers, and cultural figures — join in supporting the “Chestnut Run” to help draw attention to the needs of young patients at the Ukrainian Ministry of Health’s Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

For many of them, participating in the Run has already become a cherished tradition ahead of Kyiv Day. At the same time, each year new caring individuals join the charitable initiative, inspiring others by their example to support children with congenital heart defects.

This year, the 33rd “Chestnut Run” was supported by:

— actor couple Ihor Rubashkin and Kseniia Vertynska, who are joining the Run for the second time,
— Ukrainian singer MamaRika (Anastasiia Sereda),
— TV host and actress Liudmyla Barbir,
— шоумен and host Andrii Dzhedzhula,
— journalist Oksana Hutsait,
— choreographer Yevhen Kot,
— TV host and actress Dariia Trehubova,
— theater and film actors Anhelina Samchyk, Anastasiia Tsymbalaru, Dariia Leheida, Anastasiia Nesternenko, Alona Yakymenko,
— actor and serviceman Maks Devizorov, who is currently defending Ukraine in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Each ambassador supports the Run not only by spreading awareness, but also through personal participation and sincere attention to the issue of children’s heart health and the importance of supporting the Center.

It is thanks to people like them that charity becomes visible, and support becomes truly meaningful for those who need it most today.

Join the 33rd “Chestnut Run” and run for little hearts.

We are running online, but we truly missed meeting you in person 💚

Starting today, we will once again see some of our participants during the старт package pick-up for the 33rd “Run under the chestnuts” ☘️

Yes, this year the Run will once again take place online, and on May 31 everyone will run their own route in different cities and countries. But these few days at the office are our little opportunity to feel close to each other again. To see your eyes, your smiles, and the people who become part of this great shared cause for little hearts year after year ❤️

📦 If you selected self pick-up for your старт package — we are waiting for you at the office from May 25 to May 29 inclusive.
🕙 Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
📍 Kyiv, 28/1 Viacheslava Chornovola St.
Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, office 117

Come for your старт package, the atmosphere of the Run, and warm hugs from our team 🫂

We sincerely thank the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine for its support of the “Run under the chestnuts” and for the values that unite us in this partnership: humanity, mutual support, care for life, and the future of children.

“Run under the chestnuts” has long become more than just a charity race in Kyiv. It is an international movement of support, joined by Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine in different European countries. And such cooperation once again reminds us that goodness has no borders.

Especially today, it is important and valuable for us to feel the support of the European community and to see how people, organizations, and partners from different countries unite around a Ukrainian charitable initiative. We believe that shared values — support, solidarity, respect for life, and helping those in need — create the foundation of true unity.

The 33rd “Run under the chestnuts” will take place in different cities across Europe, but its main goal remains unchanged — helping young patients of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

Thank you for running alongside us — in Ukraine and across Europe ❤️

On May 14, together with «Loko Moko», we held a warm gathering for the young patients of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology.

On a beautiful spring day outdoors, the children chose their favorite drawings and filled them with bright colors. The creative process brought lots of smiles, joy, and sincere emotions.

They say colors can brighten your mood — and we truly feel that this day became even warmer, more colorful, and filled with happy moments 🎨

At the end of the gathering, Lactel prepared pleasant gifts for the young participants to celebrate their creativity 🤍

We thank everyone who helped organize this meeting, as well as our participants who continue helping save these little hearts ❤️

For the second consecutive year, BC Media — a network of energy-independent video displays in Kyiv’s central business centers—is partnering with the “Chestnut Run” as its outdoor (OOH) advertising partner.

Thanks to our partner’s support, information about the 33rd “Chestnut Run” appears on screens in the capital’s business centers. These are spaces where thousands of people pass by daily, new ideas are born, decisions are made, and the rhythm of the modern city is shaped.

BC Media’s 53 screens are located in the elevator areas of Kyiv’s business centers—places of prolonged contact with the audience. The network’s total reach exceeds 1.69 million contacts per month.

For the “Chestnut Run,” this support is an opportunity to speak even louder and on a larger scale about what matters most: helping the tiny patients of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

This year, the Run’s charity collection is aimed at purchasing a video laryngoscope for the department of anesthesiology and intensive care for newborns—equipment that is critically important for saving children with congenital heart defects.

We sincerely thank BC Media for their trust, support, and shared desire to make important social initiatives visible to the city.

Together—for the sake of little hearts ❤️