Chairman, Chairman of the Board of Directors German Gref won the most popular 4.2km run of the traditional Green Marathon organized by Sberbank every year. The marathon, which was held for the 10th time this year and brought together more than 110 thousand participants from 60 cities of the country, has become one of the most popular sports events in Russia.
The Green Marathon program, which started at Vasilyevsky Spusk in Moscow, included several races for different categories of participants. A distance of 500 meters has been prepared for children. The 4.2km run was available both individually and in teams, and it was the first time Nordic Walking enthusiasts had raced this distance. A separate test was included for wheelchair users in the 10 km race. The longest distances were 21.1 km and 42.2 km.
After finishing, German Gref noted the wonderful atmosphere: “Everyone ran, everyone supported each other, so of course the endorphins and the sense of joy are huge. The distance was not too difficult for me because I run about 5km every day, that is the normal distance. The head of Sberbank emphasized that it is important to exercise regularly, according to him, he devotes from an hour to an hour and a half every morning to health, trying to maintain his normal physical shape, since his performance depends on it.
The Green Marathon aims to promote a healthy lifestyle among Russians and also acts as a charity event. Marathon organizers see their main task as raising funds to support children with special needs. Families in which such children grow up need special support: psychological, pedagogical and, of course, financial.
Fundraising work continues as part of the World of Open Opportunities in conjunction with Sberbank’s charitable foundation Contribution to the Future. Anyone can donate in all cities where the Green Marathon takes place. The promotion itself will run until September 1, 2023.
“This year, we have added a very important mission of the marathon in our opinion – helping children with disabilities and above all children who are now in war zones,” said German Gref. “I think it inspires our people a lot. When I made my transfers, 10.5 million rubles had already been collected. He’s so cool and has the opportunity to help those in need.”