On June 30, Vinnytsia hosted the second race of the RUN 4 VICTORY charity quad marathon, which this year is being held by the All-Ukrainian Sports and Fitness Society Kolos and the Kharakter sports community in cooperation with MHP to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, UNN reports.
More than 800 participants of all ages and fitness levels ran a course of 2, 5, 10, 21 km in Vyshensky Park or joined the race online. The youngest marathon participants ran 200, 400, or 800 meters. All the participants' money was transformed into donations. MHP added some of the funds. In total, they managed to raise 30 FPV drones with an estimated cost of UAH 500 thousand for the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handziuk. The event became part of the RUN 4 VICTORY Race League and was supported by Vinnytsia RMA, the city council and partner I-VIN.
The goal of the large-scale sporting event is to raise UAH 1.5 million in registration fees to cover the needs of military units and the military service organizations in each city where the races take place.
Sergiy Dobrohorsky, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Agribusiness at MHP: "MHP has initiated the RUN 4 VICTORY Race League to unite the efforts of business and communities in supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is the second symbolic race, for which teams from all the company's enterprises from 12 regions of Ukraine have registered. I think this is a very good initiative. The distance is not important, because the main thing is that we are united and working together to help the military. It is about team spirit and the desire to move forward under any circumstances. Running is about determination, discipline and endurance. These qualities affect the results we get in our work and business. It is also important for the country, as the results of our work affect both the state budget and the development of the country as a whole.
Oleksandr Pakholyuk, Director of the MHP-Community Charitable Foundation, said: "The main goal of this race is to help the military and unite communities. To demonstrate that it is possible to help in such a way that there are no small distances, and no donors. Therefore, the Vinnytsia race is a race in support of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakiv Handziuk. Now the brigade needs additional equipment to carry out combat missions, which we have donated with the funds raised from registration fees. This race once again demonstrates that if we run together, we help together! Everyone's participation in RUN 4 VICTORY is a contribution to the care of our defenders. The MHP-Hromada Charitable Foundation invites everyone to join the next races in Cherkasy and Ladyzhyn and demonstrate that together we are strong!"
Volodymyr Prokopchuk, Director of the MHP Vinnytsia Hub: "Our MHP Hub took over the race baton from the Western Hub, and today we held it in Vinnytsia. However, this event is another proof of the unity, cohesion and endurance of Ukrainians. After all, we not only run, but also donate to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Each of the participants made a contribution, and all the funds raised will be used to purchase drones and other protective equipment for the soldiers of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Y. Handziuk. This race is another example of MHP and MHP Vinnytsia Hub being a socially responsible company. We are not only concerned about the food security of the country, but also care about the well-being of people in the communities where we operate, care about a healthy lifestyle, and since February 24, 2022, our priority has been to help defenders. Most of our Hub employees took part in the race. Many of them ran with their families. Everyone chose a distance according to their level of training. By our example, we want to show that you don't have to be an athlete to run. The main thing is to demonstrate our unity, strength, character and determination again, because we are invincible when we are united, when our hearts beat in unison.