Ukrainian veterans and activists participate in Army Ten-Miler run in Washington for second time

A team of Ukrainian veterans and activists from the US Ukrainian Activists (USUA) organization joined the annual Army Ten-Miler run in Washington, USA, for the second consecutive year. The event, held for its 42nd consecutive year, honors military service members.

Ukrinform reported the news, citing USUA President Nadiia Shaporynska, Rubryka writes.

The run united thousands of American military service members, veterans, and their families.

The Ukrainian team joined the event participants, featuring:

• Veterans Ruslan Popov, Vadym Korobenko, Oleh Kontsovskyi, and Andriy Voloshenyuk
• USUA Founder, President, and Executive Director Nadiya Shaporynska
• Organization volunteers Matt Widmann and Natalia DeMarco

^{Photo source: US Ukrainian Activists}

All seven representatives of the Ukrainian team completed the designated 10-mile distance (approximately 16 kilometers) within the official time limit. Upon crossing the finish line, each participant received a finisher medal.

Nadiia Shaporynska noted that participating in the run holds special meaning for the team that extends beyond sports competition.

"For the USUA veteran team, the Army Ten-Miler run is much more than a sporting event. Every mile symbolizes courage, perseverance, and our commitment to supporting Ukrainian veterans who have sacrificed so much defending their homeland from ongoing Russian aggression," the organization's president emphasized.

Before the start of the race, the Defense Attaché at the Embassy of Ukraine in the US, Yurii Dolotov, greeted the Ukrainian team.

^{Photo source: US Ukrainian Activists}

According to the organizers, participating in sports events of this format supports the rehabilitation of Ukrainian veterans while simultaneously drawing attention to Ukraine's fight for freedom. Thus, the Ukrainian team's presence at the Army Ten-Miler combined participation in an international sports event with veteran support and representing Ukraine.

The team's visual styling also underscored its Ukrainian identity. Participants ran in t-shirts featuring the silhouette of Ukraine, including Crimea, rendered in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The apparel also displayed the USUA logo alongside the flags of Ukraine and the United States.

^{Photo source: US Ukrainian Activists}

Background

The Army Ten-Miler takes place annually every October in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas. It ranks as the second most popular 10-mile race in the United States. Each year, it gathers tens of thousands of participants, including active-duty service members and veterans from various US states, their family members, and international guests.

The Ukrainian team's participation in the 42nd annual Army Ten-Miler marked the second consecutive appearance by US Ukrainian Activists representatives at the event. All seven participants covered the distance within the set time limit and received finisher medals.

It should be noted that a charitable festival, Taste of Ukraine, took place in Chicago, uniting the Ukrainian community. During the event, organizers raised over 4,000 US dollars for the Protez Foundation and continued fundraising for equipment for a Ukrainian soldier.

Additionally, in June, parishioners of the Saints Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church in Chicago raised 13,000 US dollars for the medical treatment, prosthetics, and rehabilitation of severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

Furthermore, in June in Davis, California, the charitable organization Yolo for Ukraine held a culinary and arts evening titled Authentic Soul Barbecue Buffet. The event raised 7,000 US dollars to purchase vital medical supplies for Ukrainian service members.

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