On May 7, 2025, the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine welcomed special guests — well-known Ukrainian actors, influencers, and TV hosts. The visit took place as part of the 32nd charitable sports event “Chestnut Run,” which has supported this medical institution for 23 consecutive years. The purpose of the meeting was to draw attention to the current needs of the Center after the missile strike on July 8, 2024, on “Okhmatdyt,” the issues of congenital heart defects in children, and to support young patients who require urgent cardiac surgery.

The Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery is the only highly specialized institution in Ukraine where over 2,000 surgeries are performed each year for children with congenital heart defects. Approximately 5,000 children with such conditions are born annually in Ukraine, and for many of them, survival depends on timely surgical intervention. Thanks to the unique expertise of the Center’s doctors, surgeries are often performed in the first minutes of a newborn’s life, which significantly increases the chances of recovery.

All charitable contributions collected by participants of the “Chestnut Run” are directed toward purchasing modern equipment and consumables for the Center. For example, last year, thanks to the funds raised, the Center acquired two electrocautery devices, which are critically important for performing surgeries with minimal blood loss and better visualization.

This year, the need for support became even more urgent. On July 8, 2024, as a result of a missile strike on the “Okhmatdyt” children’s hospital, the building of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery suffered significant damage. Operating rooms, intensive care units, and vital equipment were damaged, making it impossible to perform surgeries under normal conditions. Currently, the medical team is working in a temporarily arranged facility with limited resources, which complicates the provision of care to young patients.

To assess the extent of the damage and better understand the Center’s needs, the ambassadors of the 32nd “Chestnut Run” visited the institution:

• Ukrainian TV host, actress, screenwriter, producer, and director Daria Trehubova,
• Influencer and brand owner Yevheniia Lohai,
• Actors Kseniia Vertynska and Ihor Rubashkin,
• TV host of TSN and 1+1 Marathon, journalist Natalia Ostrovska.

The guests visited the damaged pediatric building to observe the progress of repair works and also toured the adult cardiology and cardiac surgery building, which temporarily receives young patients for treatment.

During the visit, the Center’s Medical Director Andrii Maksymenko spoke about the specifics of diagnosing and treating congenital heart defects, shared stories of saving young patients, and demonstrated the equipment used for complex surgeries, including equipment purchased through charitable contributions from the “Chestnut Run” participants.

The ambassadors had the opportunity to communicate with the medical staff and visit the intensive care unit, where children are currently receiving post-surgery treatment. One child, diagnosed with a heart defect, was born on May 5, but thanks to the doctors’ efforts, her heart is already healthy. There are many such cases, as the Center saves newborns in the first minutes of life immediately after birth.

This visit left a deep emotional impact: each guest was able to feel how important every charitable contribution is for saving children’s lives and how powerful and coordinated the Center’s work is even after significant damage to one of its departments.

The ambassadors’ mission is to support the Center and draw attention to urgent issues, inspiring as many people as possible to join the 32nd “Chestnut Run.” Funds raised by participants of this year’s “Run” will be used to equip the Center’s X-ray operating room. Over a third of surgeries performed on children with congenital heart defects are done minimally invasively through peripheral vessels, even in premature babies, thanks to the doctors’ expertise. These procedures require a modern high-pressure injector in the X-ray operating room. This critically important device allows precise, automatic, and safe injection of contrast agents during angiography at high speed and pressure, without damaging the delicate structures of a child’s heart. Every transvascular surgery requires the use of this device. This equipment is not just machinery — it is a tool that will help save thousands of children’s lives every year.

The “Chestnut Run” is more than a sporting event. It is a symbol of unity for a great cause, an example of how joint efforts can change lives. Each participant becomes part of a great mission — saving children’s hearts.

More than 3,000 participants have already joined the 32nd “Chestnut Run.” Registration is still open. The charitable contribution is 300 UAH. The event takes place online on May 25, on Kyiv Day, from any corner of Ukraine or the world, for the safety and lives of young Ukrainians.