News
From 1 to 11 November 2013 there will be held the second edition of the 1000 Balkan Charity Challenge, organized by Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation, UniCredit Bulbank and Begach Sports Club
“1000 Balkan Charity Challenge” is a charity initiative which is unique for the region of the Balkans. For 11 days participants will pass 1050 km. on the territory of Romania and Bulgaria. The event is not a competition. The time to run per day is 8 hours and 30 minutes (or 160 km to cycle and 59 km to run on average) and this requires the participants to have a very good physical condition and to show stamina.
The major goal of 1000 Balkan Charity Challenge marathon is fund-raising for the support of charity causes. Companies and people are invited to support 6 causes in Bulgaria and 12 in Romania They have been carefully selected by the organizers and include critical social issues and fields, such as care for disabled children and elderly people, elderly people living alone, education, talent development, support for the poor. The first ultramarathon attracted support in the amount of EUR 24000. Donations for various causes are raised through a dedicated online platform: www.1000balkan.com.
Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation is the Bulgarian partner of the initiative. In Romania the partner is the charity organization "HOSPICE CasaSperantei". Co-organizers and general sponsors are UniCredit Bulbank and UniCredit Tiriac Bank. Sports partners are: for Bulgaria - Begach Club, for Romania - Ro Club Marathon and Elite Running. In Bulgaria the event is also supported by the Bulgarian Donation Forum.
The event aims at
1. Promoting sport, in particular outdoor activities, such as accessible and proven healthy lifestyle alternative.
2. Developing charity culture through sport and raise online donations for those in need by using the event website platform www.1000balkan.com.
3. Connecting positive-minded people from both neighbouring countries beyond the borders.
4. Raising awareness of the responsibility to the environment by planting trees instead of leaving plastic bags and bottles on the way after us. At the end of each day the marathon participants will plant trees of unique species in danger of extinction - Ginko Biloba and Meta Sequoya. More information on these extraordinary trees is available on the website of the event.
5. Establishing a tradition, in this geographical region, of testing the human body, mind and spirit through extreme challenges. When crossing borders in a certain aspect of our life we are inevitably prepared to do it in other aspects too.
"1000 Balkan Charity Challenge” is a metaphor and a real life example of collective and individual service for the benefit of society, combined with the eternal human desire for going beyond the borders and living a meaningful life," said Stanislav Georgiev, chief financial officer UniCredit Tiriac Bank and founder of ultramarathon. Stanislav Georgiev held the same position in UniCredit Bulbank. "Experience of previous years shows that we can make a difference, inspire and encourage others to make a step towards meaningful life."
The start is on 1 November 2013 (Friday) at 7.00 h in Bucharest, Sector 1, Bd. Expozitiei No.1F - in front of the seat of UniCredit Tiriac Bank, opposite the EXPO center). The marathon route passes through the two bridges connecting Bulgaria and Romania (Rousse-Gijurgevo and Vidin-Kalafat). The marathon ends on 11 November 2013 (Monday) at about 17.00 in Bucharest, at the same place.
The time for passing the whole route is 3 days in Romania and 8 days in Bulgaria. On 4 November the group will arrive in the center of Sofia at 7 Sveta Nedelya Sq. in front of the headquarters of UniCredit Bulbank at about 17.30 h.
Here you can see the route of the marathon: http://1000balkan.com/blog/bg/traseu/
Media partners in Bulgaria: bTV, Dnevnik, OSEM Magazine, Radio FM+
The event is also supported by other companies and institutions such as Toyota, 3M, CityGrill, Diplomat Plaza, Aventuria, Superfit, American International School of Bucurest, Kyani, GILI Soy Romania, Brevis, La Fantana, Izvorul Minunilor, Chipita. We also invite others to join.
For further information:
Official website of the event: http://1000balkan.com/
The vent in facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1000balkan?fref=ts
Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation
Elitsa Barakova - 0888 95 75 13
Iva Petrova (for Bulgarian causes) - 0885 731 768
UniCredit Bulbank
Viktorija Davidova – 0894 570 159, Ekaterina Ancheva – 0894 518 193
Begach Running Club
Elenko Elenkov – 0887 347 658