Power of thousand hearts #velcombegom

Today, on 27 May, the first mass charity run in aid of children along the heart-shaped route took place in Minsk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB7Mt66Mpng

Several thousand people, including NOC Belarus First Vice-President Andrei Astashevich, Health Minister Valery Malashko, First Deputy Minister Dmitry Pinevich and Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee Ihar Yurkevich, Director of the National Scientific and Practical Centre’s “Pediatric Surgery” Konstantin Drozdovsky, bore active part in the action. Olympic champion Sergei Makarenko, medalist of the world and European boxing championships Siarhei Karneyeu, the women’s national curling team and the Belarusian Athletics Federation’s staff got involved as well to jog up the route.

The participants were to cover an encircled route in the shape of heart around the Minsk Arena Complex. A lap was 1,1 km in length with no limits on a number of times it could be covered: some runners coped with 10 “hearts”, four-year Milana handled one lap.

Everyone was awarded memorable medals.

Music bands “Uzari” and “Minskoe More” were invited to the specially arranged concert.

It is a worldwide charity action. During 27-28 May, every Belarusian can record his result with a smartphone, upload it as a screenshot to social networks hashtagged #velcombegom and thus earn 2 BYR per 1 km. Those covering heart-shape distances raise twice as big sums – 4 BYR per 1 km.

- We gathered in good faith and cordial intention to help children with heart diseases, - said Andrei Astashevich. - We earn money for a new therapeutic equipment for them. Every person, who took part in the run, proved their adherence to a healthy lifestyle and simultaneously supported the charity action.

Velcom holds “Run of Thousand Hearts” with support of the NOC Belarus and Ministry of Health to help children, promote a healthy way of life and culture of running in Belarus.