The "Acting for Survivors" race, dedicated to the International Action "16 Days of Activism Against Violence", was held last Sunday, November 26, in the city of Irpin, Kyiv region. The event was organized by the NGO "UA Experts" on the initiative and with the assistance of the Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, with the support of the UN in Ukraine, within the framework of the social and legal project "Response & Prevention" and in cooperation with the Ukrainian diaspora in Chicago represented by the Charitable Foundation "Help Heroes of Ukraine".

It is no coincidence that Irpin became the venue for a race dedicated to countering violence. About 90% of residents fled the city in February-March 2022, when it was at the epicenter of hostilities and partially occupied by Russian invaders. When evacuating, the residents of Irpin were forced to cross the occupiers' checkpoints and walk or run through the streets under the threat of violence and death. These were the streets along which the evacuation took place, and the routes of the "Acting for Survivors" race lay along them.

The participants — more than 1500 people — were offered a choice of four distances: 200 meters, 500 meters, 1 km, and 6 km. Both adults and children joined the race. The event was attended by government officials, MPs, heads of international organizations and diplomatic missions, and public and cultural figures.

Members of the Ukrainian Bar Association were also among the participants. Serhii Lysenko, attorney at law at Serhii Lysenko & Partners, Deputy Chairman of the UNBA Business and Investor Protection Committee, said that his friends who love to run had joined him on the course.

"My running season this year was ending, so it was a pleasure to run with close friends," said Serhii.

Among the race participants were famous athletes, businessmen, media stars, and representatives of Kyiv and Kyiv oblast running communities.

"I'd like to note that the event was well organized and warmed by emotions despite the weather. But this weather contributed to a fairly fast running pace," jokes Serhii.

After the race in Irpin was completed, the baton was passed to other cities of Ukraine and representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in Chicago, USA, who continued the race on their territories.

According to the organizers of the first "Acting for Survivors" race, in the future, it should become an annual national event for the International action 16 Days of Activism Against Violence, which has been held from November 25 to December 10 in more than 100 countries since 1991 to intensify joint efforts for the unifying goal of counteracting all forms of violence.