Salsa Marathon "Breath of Life" in support of patients with pulmonary hypertension

On 21 May 2016 in Kyiv, on Mykhailovska Square, the United World Cultures Foundation (UWCF) organized a national charitable Salsa Marathon "Breath of life" in support of people with pulmonary hypertension. The event was held as part of the celebrations of Europe Day in Ukraine supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education of Ukraine, Kyiv City State Administration. Similar event was run these days in many countries around the world. Its goal is to raise the awarenessof the public about patients with this rare disease.

By holding this sporting event its organizers wanted to reveal the complexity of lives of people who are struggling every day for a chance to breathe. Physical exertion of the participants led to accelerated breathing, which brought them closer to a condition that patients with pulmonary hypertension normally have.

In addition to informational support at events around the world and in Ukraine, charity fund raising was made and the collected funds were provided to the Association of Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Co-organizers of the event:

• Associationof Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension
• State Scientific and Practical Centre of Paediatric Cardiology and Surgery of the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine
• Nobelon Event Agency

The Marathon was supported by:

• Antonina Yaresko and her ballet school
• Salsa Club
• Agua Dance School
• Depo Dance Cafe
• Kiev Dance Space
• Singer Tony Remol
• Dislocados Musical Band

Special guest of the event Amador Lopez gave master class to participantsof the Marathon.

By holding this event, the United World Cultures Foundation (UWCF) jointly with the Association of Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension attracted the public attention to the problem of pulmonary hypertension disease and raised funds to repair the equipment for the diagnosis of the disease.

Sponsors of the event:

• Donbasenergo Company
• LEXLIGA Law Firm
• Olimpiyskiy Gorodok Residential Area
• Sandora Company
• Danon Company
• Coca-Cola Company

Partners of the event:

• Galex dance shoes factory
• Pravex Bank

Information partners of the event:

• UA Pershyi TV Channel
• Sotsіalna Krayina TV Channel
• Kyiv TV Channel
• UA TV Channel
• Yaskrave radio Internet Radio
• RTI Radio Channel
• UNIAN