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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.

This year, participants joined from 79 localities across Ukraine and more than 39 countries worldwide, including Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Kenya, Curaçao, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guyana, India, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.

One of the most symbolic starts this year took place in Kherson. Despite daily challenges and security risks, a team of colleagues and friends joined the Run in their hometown for the very first time.

“People in Kherson know the value of life better than anyone. But we also know one more thing: our children deserve a future. This run helps save little hearts. And if we can help, we do — no matter what,” shared participants of the Kherson start.

The Chestnut Run continues to grow into an international movement supporting Ukrainian children. This year, official starts and local participant gatherings took place in many countries, including Austria (Vienna, Salzburg, Graz), Poland (Wrocław, Kraków, Warsaw), the United States (Dallas, New York), Canada, France (Dijon, Strasbourg, Paris), Ireland (Killarney), Switzerland (Zurich), Australia, Kazakhstan (Almaty), Denmark, the Netherlands, Kenya, Thailand, Germany, and Cyprus.

A particularly special event took place in Ireland, where Ukrainian skeleton athlete, Olympian, and sports diplomat Vladyslav Heraskevych joined the Run.

The international expansion of the Run was made possible thanks to the support of Ukrainian communities worldwide, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, diplomatic missions, and the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, all of whom help spread awareness of this Ukrainian charitable initiative and unite the international community around it.

This year, information support was provided by Ukrainian embassies and consulates in dozens of countries, including Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Moldova, Chile, Albania, and many others.

Ukrainian businesses also remain a vital pillar of support. This year, 143 corporate teams from across Ukraine joined the initiative. The largest team was monobank | universal bank, bringing together 840 participants. Other major participating companies included Auchan Ukraine, Sense Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, Pharmacy 9-1-1, Oschadbank, Rozetka, ProCredit Bank, NIBULON, Sanofi, Ukrnafta, DVL (Datagroup-Volia-lifecell), Lactalis, YURiA-PHARM, Pesto Family, Homenet, MetLife Ukraine, ACME, Pin Service, and many others.

Traditionally, a symbolic ambassador start took place in the center of Kyiv on Kyiv Day, bringing together representatives of the Kyiv City State Administration, the Department of Youth and Sports, the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, diplomatic institutions, Ukraine’s security and defense forces, Ukrainian businesses, media representatives, and project ambassadors.

Among those who joined the start were:

Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv;
Olena Hovorova, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration;
Yuliia Khan, Director of the Department of Youth and Sports;
Vadym Huttsait, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine;
Helena Jurgenson, First Secretary of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine;
Serhii Chernyshuk, Medical Director of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery;
Nataliia Hurina, Chairwoman of the Management Board of Raiffeisen Bank;
Iryna Kuznetsova, Founder and Initiator of the Chestnut Run;
Kylymmen, Sports Ambassador and member of Kalush Orchestra;
Andrii Dzhedzhula, Ukrainian actor, TV and radio host, and volunteer;
Oksana Huttsait, Ukrainian TV presenter and host of the “Facts” news program on ICTV;
Andrii Maksymenko, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon;
Volodymyr Zhovnir, Ukrainian Cardiac Surgeon and Anesthesiologist;
Andrii Tkachov, Acting First Deputy Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration;
Yaroslav Filimonov, Head of Kvertus, a Ukrainian manufacturer of electronic warfare systems;
Yevhen Tolochyn, Sports Journalist, Champion Radio;
As well as actors, performers, opinion leaders, and project ambassadors Anastasiia Nesternenko and Yevhen Kot.

Special gratitude goes to the Defense Forces of Ukraine, whose courage and dedication allow us to continue the good tradition of the Chestnut Run and unite people in saving children’s lives. Representatives of the 19th Separate Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, the 25th Public Order Protection Brigade named after Prince Askold, the 27th Pechersk Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, the Omega Special Purpose Center, the Separate Artillery Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine 3101, and the Northern Kyiv Territorial Command of the National Guard joined the ambassadors’ start.

The goal of the 33rd Chestnut Run is to raise funds for the purchase of a video laryngoscope for the Neonatal Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. This equipment is critically important for treating children with complex congenital heart defects, enabling physicians to perform procedures with greater precision and safety for the youngest patients.

Registration for the 33rd Chestnut Run and the opportunity to make a charitable donation remain open at probig.in.ua. The organizers will announce the final fundraising results during an official press conference at a later date.