On May 25, 2025, the 32nd “Chestnut Run” was held on the 1,543rd Kyiv Day. The event, traditionally supported by the Department of Youth and Sports of the Kyiv City State Administration, brought together thousands of participants committed to supporting the future of the youngest patients at the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

More than 8 000 people took part in the 32nd Chestnut Run. Due to the full-scale war and the constant threat of shelling, the project was held online for the fourth time: without a joint starting line, but with a single shared goal — to help children with congenital heart defects. Participants chose their own route and start time, completing the symbolic 5-kilometer distance in a location convenient and safe for them.

Participants from different regions of Ukraine joined the event — from over 90 cities and towns in total: Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel, Bilohorodka, Ivankiv, Obukhiv, Fastiv, Khrystynivka, Velykyi Bychiv, Sofiivska Borshchahivka, Odesa, Vyshneve, Kryukivshchyna, Brovary, Hlevakha, Vyshhorod, Makariv, Lviv, Kotsyubynske, Horodysche, Kalynivka, Dnipro, Korosten, Yelyzavetivka, Cherkasy, Sloviansk, Ukrainka, Novyi Rozdil, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, Uzhhorod, Ternopil, Boryspil, Boryslav, Sharovechka, Kharkiv, Vyzhnytsia, Svitlovodsk, Poltava, Sumy, Velyki Mezhyrichi, Ladyzhyn, Bila Tserkva, Vasylkiv, Sviatopetrivske, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kobtsiv, Borshchiv, Zalizne, Novosilky, Krushynka, Mali Kanivtsi, Putrivka, Pereiaslav, Oleksandriia, Bakhmach, Bilozersk, Chernivtsi, Rozdilna, Lubny, Novoheivynske, Kremenchuk, Nizhyn, Kosiv, Uman, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Shostka, Khorol, Monastyryshche, Slobozhanske, Kramatorsk, Zhytomyr, Chaika, Velyka Oleksandrivka, Velyki Sorochyntsi, Snivsk, Zhornivka, Rivne, Orzhytsia, Chuhuiv, Lutsk, Hatne, Putrivka, Boyarka, Mykulychi, Kropyvnytskyi, Znamianka, Mariupol, Hryhorivka, Drohobych, Lychanka, Chabany, Khmelnytskyi.

The Chestnut Run continues to unite people not only in Ukraine but also abroad, gaining increasing international scale. This year, the project involved the Ukrainian diaspora and foreigners from Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

The charity initiative was supported by the Embassies of Ukraine in Latvia, Tanzania, Thailand, Austria, Moldova, the Netherlands, Korea, Indonesia, Norway, Switzerland, Portugal, Bulgaria, Malaysia, Georgia, and Albania. The consulates in Brno, Kraków, Bălți, New York, and San Francisco also joined, encouraging local communities to go out onto the streets and take part in the good cause.

Official offline starts abroad, supported by local organizers, took place in Austria (Vienna, Salzburg, Graz), Poland (Wrocław, Kraków, Warsaw), USA (Dallas), France (Dijon), Ireland (Killarney), Switzerland (Zurich), Australia (Melbourne, Perth, Hobart), Cyprus, Bali, Moldova, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Germany.

Under the chestnut trees in Kyiv, the ambassador team traditionally ran, this time including:

• Andrii Maksymenko — Medical Director of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery;
• Yuliia Khan — Director of the Department of Youth and Sports of the Kyiv City State Administration;
• Andrii Dzhedzhula — Ukrainian theatre and film actor, TV and radio host, showman, volunteer, and head of a charitable organization;
• Our defenders from the Northern Operational-Territorial Unit of the National Guard of Ukraine;
• State Emergency Service of Ukraine;
• Yaroslav Filimonov — Head of KVERTUS, Ukrainian manufacturer of EW and ELINT systems;
• Volodymyr Zhovnir — Acting Director of the Center for Radiation Medicine;
• Representatives of the “Team of the Caring”, the largest team of the 32nd Chestnut Run from Ukrgazvydobuvannya, with 1,100 participants;
• Serhii Annikov — ultramarathon runner, representative of Raiffeisen Bank.

A special place among the participants is held by those who make it possible to run and continue our tradition — the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Participants included the 4th Operational Brigade named after Hero of Ukraine Sergeant Serhii Mykhalchuk “Rubizh”, Northern Kyiv Territorial Unit of the National Guard of Ukraine, Military Unit 3114 of the National Guard of Ukraine, 1st Presidential Operational Brigade named after Hetman Petro Doroshenko “Burevii”, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

An integral part of the event is teams from business, government, public, charitable, and religious organizations, as well as international teams. This year, over 160 teams joined, demonstrating social responsibility and support for young hearts. The “Team of the Caring” from Ukrgazvydobuvannya broke its previous record with 1,100 participants. Other large teams included Universal Bank | monobank, Sense Bank, Auchan Ukraine, Oschadbank, Raiffeisen Bank, Pharmacy 911, PRAVEX BANK, Nibulon, Sanofi, Ukrnafta, Rozetka, Domino’s, Vienna Team, HomeNet, Cassation Administrative Court, ACME, Soufflet Agro Ukraine, Kyiv Customs, and many others.

Funds raised by participants this year will be used to equip the X-ray operating room at the Center. Over a third of procedures performed on children with congenital heart defects are conducted minimally invasively through peripheral vessels, even in premature babies, thanks to the expertise of the doctors. Such procedures require a modern high-pressure injector, a critical device that allows precise, automatic, and safe delivery of contrast agents at high speed and pressure during angiography, without damaging delicate heart structures. This equipment is not just machinery — it is a tool that will help save thousands of Ukrainian children’s lives each year.

Registration for the 32nd Chestnut Run is still open. Everyone can make a charitable contribution until the end of May. Results of this year’s event will be announced at a press conference ahead of International Children’s Day.

Photos — Inna Zahorulko

Organizers:

Charitable Foundation “Chestnut Run”

Department of Youth and Sports of the City of Kyiv

Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA)

Partners:

Official Radio Partner — Champion Radio

Creative Partner — Adshot Creative

IT Partner — Ribs Studio

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#RunningForLittleHearts