For a third year in a row the participants in the ultra marathon run and cycle for 1,051 km on the territory of Romania and Bulgaria from November 1st to 11th;

The charity initiative raises funds for 24 social projects in the two countries. "1000km Balkan Charity Challenge“ not only promotes outdoor sports as a healthy way of life. The participants plant trees along the route they are passing;

The marathon is organized by HOSPICE Casa Sperantei and Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation. UniCredit is a main sponsor of "1000km Balkan Charity Challenge", supporting it also through a donation from its employees.

The charity ultra marathon "1000km Balkan Charity Challenge" this year is crossing our country for the third time. The route is 1,050 km long and is on the territory of Bulgaria and Romania, crossing twice the Danube and the Balkan following different roads. The absolute difference in altitude is 3,500 meters. The first four days (160 km per day) are passed in cycling, and the following seven – in running (60 km a day). The marathon started from the head office of UniCredit Tiriac in Bucharest at 7:30 h on November 1st. There will be also the final on November 11th at around 17:00 h. The marathon runners will reach Sofia ( Sveta Nedelya Square – in front of the headquarters of UniCredit Bulbank) at around 16:00 h on 4th November and will start back for Bucharest from the same place at 8:00 h on the next day.

The "1000km Balkan Charity Challenge" initiative raised nearly 42,000 euro last year and over 65,000 euro in total for the two years since its start. The ultra marathon was distinguished among the 10 most important social projects for Romania and was given as an example of a project of social impact by the UN Global Contact Initiative. It is interesting to note that the minimum amount contributed by each participant or volunteer is 150 euro. Private persons and companies are encouraged to donate sums for any of the 24 social projects at their choosing. Donations can be easily made in a secure way through the electronic payment system on the official website of the event http://www.1000balkan.com. A day before the start of the ultra marathon the amount raised was already 4 000 euro from nearly 100 donors.

The phases of "1000km Balkan Charity Challenge" can be followed on the Facebook page of 1000 Balkan. Everyday there will be published photos, videos, and the accounts will be updated regularly. Everyone who wants to join in will have to register on the website and choose a certain goal or charity action.

Main sponsors of the "1000km Balkan Charity Challenge" initiative are UniCredit Tiriac Bank, UniCredit Bulbank, EuroIns, Petrom, Spetema, Lidl and Diplomat Plaza. The event is supported also by UniCredit Leasing, UniCredit Consumer Financing, Decathlon, IsoStar, Toyota, 3M, CityGrill, Dacris, Aventuria, Superfit, Mos on Roata, Stepsss, Detelina, La Fantana, SoftPress, Gingk.Org, etc.

After the success from the last 2 years "1000km Balkan Charity Challenge" is held for the third time between 1 and 11 November 2014. The goals set for this year are:

- Encouraging outdoor sports as a healthy way of life;

- Encouraging charity for different social causes. On the website www.1000balkan.com there is a platform for fund raising for 20 Romanian and 4 Bulgarian projects;

- Development of the cooperation with people from different countries in the 11-day challenge;

- Support for a green idea by planting unique endangered tree species along the road (ginkgo biloba and metasequoia);

- Gives an opportunity for testing the limits of the human body, mind and soul.

More information for media:

UniCredit Bulbank, Identity & Communications Department

Ekaterina Ancheva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 963, flbufsjob/bodifwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Magdalena Ivanova, Phone: + 359 2 9232 528, nbhebmfob/jwbopwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch