A charity BKS race has been held in the Park of the First President of Kazakhstan in Almaty today. Despite the cold rain, there have been a lot of athletes, journalists and supporters at the start. After registration, the instructor of fitness club “World Class” Valikhan has performed a funny workout and exactly at 11:00 the race has started. Athletes had to overcome 10 km along the perimeter of the park. Most of the runners have coped with this task, but some of the runners have withdrawn from the distance at 2^nd and 6^th km. However, everyone has ran with enthusiasm, in spite of the inclement weather.

All funds raised at this event will be directed at the implementation of the project "Breathe, baby" of the charity foundation "AYALA". The project aims at support of children's resuscitation units of perinatal centers in the country with modern medical equipment. All maternity hospitals and perinatal center of Almaty, and regional maternity hospitals and perinatal centers located in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semipalatinsk, Karaganda, Atyrau, Taraz and Aktobe have received vital equipment within the framework of this project. Equipment for the regional perinatal center of Kyzylorda has been already bought.  The "AYALA" foundation implements this project in close cooperation with the Ministry and the regional departments of Health Care. Equipment transferred to hospital by charity foundation "AYALA”, has helped employees of maternity hospitals and perinatal centers to save thousands lives of newborns.

The British-Kazakh Society (BKS) and Almaty City Administration are the organisers of the race. BKS has extensive experience in organising charity races, these races have been holding in Astana for 4 years in a row. Semi-marathons, held in Astana by BKS are very popular among diplomats, employees of foreign companies and joint ventures, as well as among the Kazakhstani businessmen and government officials. British-Kazakh Society has organised a charity race in Almaty for the first time. The organisers are confident that the charity race will become a new tradition in our city.

The winners have been determined in several categories - best at the finish among men and women and the winner among corporate runners. The best runner is Anel Akiyanova, second place has been awarded to Aigerim Duskinova, and the third at the finish is Lazzat Tokhtarova. Yerzhan Zhanmailov is the first runner to come among men, second finishing runner is young Yernar Ibraev and the third line in the list of finishers has taken Kairbolat Egeubaev, a 51-year-old member of the Almaty runners club. By the way, the winner of the race is also a member of this club. Among corporate runners places have been divided as follows. Winner is from “Sberbank”, "silver" is from “Kamkor Management” company, “bronze" has won "Air Astana".

Air Astana", «KIOGE» company and “Sberbank” have acted as sponsors of sports charity. The «Kamkor Management» company has taken part in the event as a corporate runner.

Kazakhstan Olympians have supported the charity BKS race. Among the participants are the boxing medalists of London 2012 Olympic Games - silver medalist Adilbek Niyazymbetov and bronze medalist Ivan Dychko. The participation of our Olympians in the charity race is another evidence of social responsibility of Kazakhstan athletes. We are sure that this example will serve to the implementation of common cause of charity organisations of the Republic of Kazakhstan ¾ the development of this noble tradition. "We are watching with interest over the development of our idea originated in London in 2009. Now it is giving healthy sprouts in Kazakhstan. We are sure that the charity and the desire to participate in it will take its rightful place in the hearts of Kazakhstan people" Gauhar Bramley-Fentonm an Executive Director of British-Kazakh Society, said on this occasion.

Hayrbolat Haydarov, a Head of Physical Education and Sport Department in Almaty said: "City Akimat supported the initiative of BKS. Besides the development of physical culture and sport in our country, these activities strengthen the British-Kazakh relations and also serve as promotion of sport and a healthy lifestyle. "

Zhangeldy Sarsenov, a Vice-President of the "AYALA" Foundation, said about the race: "A large number of participants of semi-marathon, which was held on 22^nd of September in Astana, and the 10 km race in Almaty suggests, that people are not indifferent to charity. In just two races 7 564 000 KZT has been collected. From the beginning we doubted that 19 621 800 KZT for the implementation of the project "Breathe, baby" Petropavlovsk can be collected over two sporting events, but the basis is laid."

It is necessaty to buy three resuscitation table, 3 CPAP breathingdevices , syringe pumps, medical scales and other equipment designed to provide high-tech care for premature infants with various diseases for the children's reanimation unit of Petropavlovsk Regional Perinatal Center under the project "Breathe, baby".

Organisers of races and charity foundation "AYALA", which have received all money collected in the semi-marathon in Astana and the race in Almaty, express their sincere gratitude to all participants, our famous athletes and especially those people and companies that have acted as sponsors and partners. But the biggest thanks are to the people who acted as individual runners. Most of them have made their own little contribution - 2500 tenge for participationin the race, but there have been also people who donated much more money to the boxes.

BKS race in Almaty has been held for the first time, therefore it hasn’t been flawless, but the organisers are looking to the future optimistically. The fifth anniversary of the semi-marathon in Astana will be held next year and the second BKS race in Almaty and as "growing up" the organisation of these activities will be better and better, and the number of participants, sponsors and partners will increase every year.

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