Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin opened the final stage of the international charity marathon "Ball of Kindness". Alexander Subbotin signed several balls, and later, after carefully examining all the Christmas trees, he chose a souvenir to his liking.

The unique charity event began in 2023 with 100 balls, and this year more than 112 institutions and craftspeople from Belarus and Russia are participating in it. They have made about 200 balls, 30 of which are autographed by famous people – artists and athletes.

The marathon is organized by the Vitebsk Regional Association of Local Councils of Deputies in conjunction with the Vitebsk Cultural Center, with the support of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies. It is aimed at providing targeted assistance to sick children who need to acquire rehabilitation aids (not included in the state register) to improve their quality of life.

– As practice shows, our people are not indifferent, and if someone needs help, they don't need to be persuaded twice, – noted Alexander Subbotin. – Our marathon of kindness has already become international, growing in the number of participants every year. This is one of the brightest and most wonderful events with which we begin the Christmas and New Year holidays. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who came up with all this and have been organizing it for the third time. Each ball hanging on the Christmas tree is a symbol of kindness, magic, and friendship.

This year, the "Balls of Kindness" will bring New Year's miracles to the homes of little heroes who, despite their ailments and difficulties, are doing everything with their parents to overcome them. But even the resilient and strong sometimes need help from others. These are Yana Zhigulevtseva from Glubokoye, who needs a mobile indoor lift; Nikita Petkevich from Miory, who needs a special bathing seat for children with cerebral palsy; and Eva Atrokhova from Orsha, who urgently needs a standing frame with leg abduction.

The Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies, Dmitry Demidov, spoke kind words to the organizers and participants of the marathon:

– The Christmas holiday season is the most magical, wonderful time of the year. Perhaps, in the soul of each of us, memories of childhood are preserved, when together with our parents we decorated Christmas trees, took out boxes of ornaments from the top shelves. Now, thanks to these ornaments, made by caring, talented people, many positive emotions arise in the soul. We are always dissatisfied with something, we always lack something, but looking at the children for whom we have gathered, you begin to look at life differently, at what is happening to us. And to understand that everyone can do something not only for themselves and their loved ones, but also for families who have faced very serious problems. And these children should understand that they are surrounded by many kind, caring people who are always ready to help. By helping others, we become richer and taller in a human sense.

Over the past three years, the "Ball of Kindness" charity marathon has united many caring people who not only donate funds for the purchase of balls but also give free concerts, conduct master classes, and much more. Ekaterina Vyshnyakova, a talented confectioner, author, and mastermind of the "Cake Show" project in Vitebsk, whose project won the prestigious title of "Best Regional Project of the Country," came to the event not empty-handed: she donated one of the cakes from her latest show. All proceeds from its sale will be used to purchase necessary items for children with disabilities.

For the second year in a row, the famous Belarusian band Cosa Nostra has come to Vitebsk specifically for the opening of the "Ball of Kindness" event. Many more pleasant surprises awaited those gathered at the Vitebsk Concert Hall.

The event will continue tomorrow from 17:00 to 19:00, and on December 13, the ball exhibition will move to the "Trio" shopping center, where it will be located from 12:00 to 15:00.

If someone does not plan to purchase balls but wishes to help children, they can donate any affordable amount in cash or to the marathon's settlement center via ERIP.

Details and news about the marathon are posted on the project's official account: instagram.com/shar_dobranewyeahr

vitebsk-region.gov.by