Ukrainian veteran with prosthetic leg takes on two marathons in one week to support rehabilitation of fellow soldiers
Photo: Roman Kashpur, Facebook
Roman Kashpur, a Ukrainian veteran from the Vinnytsia region, will participate in the New York and US Marine Corps Marathons.
Kashpur announced that he wanted to run the 42-kilometer distance on the prosthetic leg twice in one week, Rubryka reports.
What is the problem?
Ukrainian soldiers are seriously wounded at the front every day of the war. Each of them experiences a loss, and it is not so much about losing health or a limb. The fighter cannot accept that what meant the most to them has been irretrievably lost: the opportunity to approach victory with a weapon in hand, military unity, and the usual rhythm of life.
What is the solution?
Roman Kashpur, a Vinnytsia veteran, will participate in the New York Marathon and the US Marine Corps Marathon.
The veteran said on Facebook that after his first marathon race in London, he decided to participate in the New York Marathon and, in general, to participate in all six top marathons in the world.
This NYC race is scheduled for November 5. But he was also invited to run in the US Marine Corps Marathon.
How does it work?
"The American dream with a Ukrainian flare. So, in London, the mission is accomplished. Now I can think about New York," Roman thought initially when he received a call from Vadym Svyridenko.
"The Marine Corps Marathon is held annually in Washington on the last Sunday of October. We participate every year, but last year were not accepted. You understand — a full-scale war began, and it was not right! This year, we are invited, and now we are forming a team," Vadym told Roman.
This year's Marine Corps Marathon will be held on October 29 in Washington. First, Roman assumed he could participate in a 10 km race as a kind of "warm-up" before the New York Marathon.
But later, the organizers announced that the participants from Ukraine would have to run all 42 km. Having agreed to participate in it, the veteran will have to overcome the marathon distance on a prosthesis twice a week.
"Two marathons in 7 days — it will not be easy, but no matter what you do, there is no going back!" Roman wrote.
Roman Kashpur plans to carry the flag of his military unit (Military unit A3955), signed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, during the races first on October 29 in the US capital, Washington, and then on November 5 in New York City.
"The goal of this challenge remains the same: to motivate seriously injured brothers and sisters. I want to show that life goes on no matter what," Kashpur said. "I also have a huge chance to help the seriously injured not only by my example but also by tangible support! During my marathons in the US, I will raise funds for the Citizen Charity foundation for them to purchase prosthetics for a fighter with the call sign 'Malyi' who needs a prosthetic upper limb."
He also announced that his wife, Yulia Maslikova-Kashpur, will take part in the marathon with him for the first time in New York.
Earlier, Roman Kashpur, a veteran from Vinnytsia who lost a limb in the war, ran the 43rd TCS London Marathon on April 23 with a prosthesis, and on May 28, he ran the Brussels half-marathon.
He was the first Ukrainian veteran to overcome the full marathon distance on a prosthesis.
Background
Roman Kashpur went to fight for his country as a volunteer at 19, and at 22, he was blown up by a mine near Maryinka, losing a limb.
After the injury, he found himself in sports. Less than a year after the amputation, he won the "Hero Games." In December 2021, he set a Ukraine record by pulling a 16-ton An-26 aircraft to a distance of 6.4 m in 44 seconds.
After the state of the full-scale war, he again went to defend the country. Half a year later, he returned home to the city of Khmilnyk and took up volunteering and sports.
