On February 23, 2025, marking the third anniversary of the full-scale war, charity runs Heroes Run 2025 took place in nine cities worldwide. The event brought together over 400 participants and raised more than €17,000 to support Ukrainian children who have lost their parents due to the war. All funds collected were donated to the Children of Heroes Charity Fund.
Heroes Run 2025 was simultaneously held in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Warsaw, Krakow, Porto, Stockholm, Funchal, Miami, and Kyiv. The event was organized by the Ukrainian Running Club in various countries in collaboration with the Children of Heroes Charity Fund (Children of Heroes Stichting).
The main goal of the run was to raise funds for a psychological support program for the children of Ukraine’s fallen heroes. Each participant completed a 5 km or 10 km distance, received a finisher’s medal, and 100% of registration fees were donated to the Children of Heroes Charity Fund.
The event brought together Ukrainians living abroad, local residents (Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, and American participants), as well as expats who support Ukraine. Runners took to the start line with national symbols, and as is tradition for Ukrainian sporting events, the race began with the Ukrainian national anthem.
Puma Ukraine partnered with the event, providing gifts to two participants in each city and donating 200,000 UAH to support the psychological assistance program.
Heroes Run 2025 was more than just a charity event—it was an opportunity for participants to honor their personal heroes. After 11 years of war, nearly every Ukrainian has lost a loved one who gave their life for the freedom and independence of Ukraine.
Below are some stories we received:
“Heroes do not die.” They do indeed die. Today I am still in touch, and in a few days, unfamiliar soldiers knock on my door and offer condolences. The best person is no longer in this world. Words have lost all meaning. All that is left is to wait.”
“Serhiy Shchokovenko, from the first days of the full-scale invasion, joined the defense of Ukraine as part of the Armed Forces. In the hardest months of the great war, he bravely defended Luhansk region, and later gave his life in the battles for Kherson region. He didn’t live to see the liberation of his hometown, just a month away, but he remains forever in the ranks—in the hearts of those who continue the fight.”
“My brother—my hero, the father of an unborn child.”
“All Ukrainian people are heroes!”
“I run in memory of my childhood friend Ruslan Krynytsky, who fought in the battles near Maryinka in Donetsk region. He died on March 1, 2024.”
“My cousin was killed in Bakhmut in 2023, and his daughter is an orphan now.”
The number of children losing their parents due to the war is increasing every day. Every child under the care of the Children of Heroes Charity Fund—more than 12,000 children—along with the adults looking after them, urgently needs professional psychological support.
This includes individual sessions with therapists or psychiatrists, group therapy, and rehabilitation camps to help them heal and rebuild their lives.
Over the past three years, the Children of Heroes Charity Fund has provided nearly $12 million in assistance to 12,000 children. Thanks to the Foundation, more than 11,500 psychological consultations have been conducted, and dozens of rehabilitation camps have been organized.
But this is not enough. Supporting all our beneficiaries costs $40,700 per month, and we continue working to ensure that every child receives the help they need.
Every contribution matters. Join us in making a difference—together, we can give these children a future.
You can simply donate via the link – https://childrenheroes.nl/en/heroes-run-2025/
