"Running for the language": a race organized by the All-Ukrainian Movement 'United' in support of Ukrainians under occupation took place in Kyiv
On August 18, the All-Ukrainian Movement "United" held a campaign, "Running for the Language," at VDNG to support Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories who cannot freely speak their native language.
Traditionally, 1+1 Media was the general media partner of the event as part of the "Add Ukrainian" project. This year, Kyivstar TV, a film and television platform, provided information support.
The event gathered about 500 participants in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine and the world who ran for the language. Along with Kyiv, the race was held in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vienna, and New York. In particular, 1+1 Media employees covered various distances (physically and remotely). And Marichka Padalko, anchor of 1+1 Marathon and TSN, became the ambassador of this year's race, choosing a distance of 10 km.
“Most importantly, Ukrainian is the language parents will speak with their children. For children to speak Ukrainian, hear it from their parents, for Ukrainian to be not only a language of learning, fulfilling certain requirements, but also a language of entertainment, pleasure, enjoyment, sports, and love,” says Marichka Padalko.
The event was opened by the co-founders of the United Movement, Ivan Kapelyushnyk and Natalka Fedechko, Marichka Padalko, and another star ambassador of the race, Ukrainian gymnast and Olympic gymnastics champion Oleh Verniayev.
“The language is timely. I have said it before and repeat it now: language is our weapon. I am grateful to the United Movement for inviting me to become an ambassador of the Running for the Language race on the Independence Day of Ukraine. My hometown, Donetsk, is currently under occupation. I want to support every Ukrainian who cannot speak their native language because of the danger to their lives. And also those who are still afraid of being judged because of mistakes. I also make them. And it is normal. The main thing is that we need to realize once and for all that every action we take, even a small one, brings us closer to our Victory,” comments Oleh Verniaiev.
The “Running for the Language” campaign by the “United” Movement will last until August 24, and anyone can register here to run any distance anywhere in the world.
"Speak Ukrainian, spread our culture, because the more we spread the Ukrainian space, the less there will be a 'Russian world' around us. This is what each of us can do in civilian life. "Running for the Language is an action that unites Ukrainians wherever you are. We are grateful to everyone who joined. Your participation is invaluable," said Natalia Fedechko, leader of the United Movement.
Before the start of the race, the participants observed a minute of silence in honor of the fallen soldiers, fighters for Ukraine's independence, and civic activists who defended the right of the Ukrainian language to live. Singer SOWA performed the Ukrainian national anthem, after which the participants started the race.
As a reminder, in September 2023, 1+1 Media and the United All-Ukrainian Movement signed a memorandum of cooperation as part of the large-scale communication campaign "Add Ukrainian." Since then, we have been consolidating our efforts to popularize the Ukrainian language and culture.
