To introduce the simple principles of a healthy lifestyle and increase the physical activity of its participants - this was the goal of the inclusive cycling marathon “Be Healthy!”, which brought together 20 volunteers of the non-profit organization “Disabled and Environment”, children of the agricultural town of Fedora and “difficult” teenagers of the Stolin region. From 18 to 21 July hepassed Byroute: Brest – Pinsk – Fedory – Luka – Pinsk – Brest.
The first thing the initiative group remembers is a stop in the village of Luka, Stolin district, where they met the participants of the “Kindness” summer rally. Despite the not very friendly weather and delays on the way due to technical reasons, the guys arrived cheerful and ready to work hard. They were sincerely awaited here! The leader of the rally, Chairman of the Board of the Stolin Regional Public Organization “Support Center for Young Disabled Persons” Mikhail Skrebeiko, introduced the volunteers to his charges.
– Ten schoolchildren aged 9 to 14 years spend their summer holidays here. These are guys who found themselves in a difficult life situation,” said Mikhail Grigorievich. – They were collected by the Stolin regional department of education under the auspices of the Stolin deanery of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. All together, united, we want to help these children see a different, better life.
A game of volleyball helped the participants of the “Kindness” summer rally and the volunteers of the non-profit organization “Invalid and Environment” become friends. The evening continued around the hot fire with pleasant conversation and singing with a guitar. The next morning began according to all the rules of a healthy lifestyle: with invigorating exercises and a healthy breakfast. Later, schoolchildren willingly joined the construction of a sports ground, where the head of the initiative, Ivan Shmyga, and the disabled person of group I, Nikolai Sidorchuk, were already working.
...Hammers began to knock, shovels and saws began to work in the hands of young assistants. Nobody wanted to be left behind! Everyone was inspired by the good example that Nikolai set: despite his physical characteristics, the man made every effort and effort to build. It was with his help that the height of the horizontal bar for wheelchair users was installed and checked. As a result of well-coordinated teamwork of people with different physical abilities, a small sports complex has appeared at the Center for Independent Living for Young Disabled People in the village of Luka, which will expand opportunities for the development and strengthening of the physical fitness of everyone.
Work on the site was replaced by active recreation. The teenagers enjoyed participating in cycling competitions and completing the “Path of Health” relay race. Schoolchildren jumped in sacks, learned to interact in pairs, performed various tasks at speed using sports equipment... And everyone was able to observe and join the fascinating process of making clay products (two-day master classes were conducted by the director of the KeramART ceramic workshop, Vasily Borisov).
“I really liked how we played volleyball, football, rode bicycles... I don’t even want to leave,” Mark Shulyak, a student at school No. 3 in Stolin, shared his impression when it was time to say goodbye to the guests.
“As soon as we arrived in the village of Luka and saw teenagers from disadvantaged families, I decided to do everything possible to make them become my friends,” said Sergei Khilkovich, a volunteer of the non-profit organization “Invalid and Environment”. - It wasn't easy. Not right away, but the guys made contact. They are ordinary children - spontaneous, open, sincere... Our heartfelt participation, kindness and love did their job, which I am very happy about!
The participants of the cycling marathon especially remembered one more stop - in the agricultural town of Fedory, where a team of volunteers prepared a “Health Exhibition” for children on the territory of a local school. To the great joy of the organizers, many children came, including those who came here to stay from nearby cities. In a playful, accessible form, the volunteers not only talked about the eight principles of a healthy lifestyle, but also helped to apply them in practice.
The school administration highly appreciated the level of the event and wished creative success and good health to the cycling marathon. The fascinating “Health Exhibition” and the well-coordinated work of the volunteers made such a strong impression on the children that one eighth-grader from the Fedorskaya Secondary School, Samira Mustaeva, expressed a sincere desire to join the team and help organize such events.
And the next day, a bicycle competition was held at the school stadium, which was held by the chairman of the three-age cycling club “RaDeya” Valentin Boldenko. Three teams, formed separately from girls, boys and parents, completed a difficult course and diligently completed all the necessary elements.
After the completion of the program, residents of the agricultural town of Fedora heartily thanked the organizers of the cycling marathon for the “health holiday” presented to them and asked to hold as many such educational sports events dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle as possible.
The participants summed up the results of the cycling marathon in Pinsk. According to good tradition, everyone shared their impressions and wishes.
– Everything was very great! – said Vlad Rybachuk, a volunteer of the non-profit organization “Disabled and Environment”. – I liked helping others, including people with physical disabilities. It was nice to feel the support of other participants in the cycling marathon. Explaining the principles of a healthy lifestyle to children, I realized my responsibility: I need to follow these principles every day, setting a good example for others.
By the way, on the same day in Pinsk, Nikolai Sidorchuk celebrated the 20th anniversary of his participation in the programs of the non-profit organization “Disabled and Environment”. For this cheerful man and his loved ones, the celebration organized by the organizers of the cycling marathon* was a pleasant surprise. The milestone date was confirmed by a special certificate with the signatures of all event participants.
The cycling marathon was organized by the BOMOO "Disabled and Environment" as part of the implementation of the "Inclusive Center for the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle" initiative of the project "Prevention of non-communicable diseases, promotion of a healthy lifestyle and support for the modernization of the healthcare system in the Republic of Belarus" (BELMED), funded by the European Union, co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the framework of the Polish Development Cooperation program and implemented by UNDP, WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA in partnership with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus.