Story
"Putin Can't Stop Our Kyiv Marathon But We Can Stop Child Cancer"
The child cancer sufferers of Ukraine are the uncounted and many victims of war. We have total solidarity with Ukraine on every level, we lost our own sister and daughter Brontë "Bron" Hogan (1998-2011) to this illness, and we are also running in the memory of our comrade Sinead Moodie (1985-2026), and for the #KickCancerThon campaign she founded.
The money we raise will go Tabletochki, Ukraine's biggest child cancer charity to support children like brave 8-year old Ivan (pictured). Ivan is being treated for blood cancer at Okhmatdyt, the main children’s hospital in Kyiv – but his family lives close to a large thermal power plant that is frequently targeted in Russian attacks. His mother, Maryna says they are frightened, even at the hospital which should be protected by international convention. As if having a child suffering from blood cancer was not bad enough Maryna says: “We can’t remember the last time we slept through the night because of the constant missile attacks.”
Tabletochki's work as Ukraine's biggest child cancer charity is massive and brave
* Supporting 400 children battling cancer every single month
* Funding 12 major cancer hospitals nationwide.
* Elevating the care of over 20,000 children annually
All this is done by Tabletochki's incredible people - many working on for the cause despite suffering constant air raids on their family homes and worrying about loved ones away fighting the war. These people are saints!
Since losing Bron we have raised around €600,000 for child cancer causes and we had already raised nearly $10,000 for Tabletochki to run the Kyiv Marathon on October 11 before it was moved and postponed. But we still want to run on the streets of Kyiv!!!! Sooooo we will run our own very noisy marathon in Kyiv on October 11 with local STRAVA friends including several serving heroic defenders. A big thank-you to our lead sponsor SEKONDA - we will wear their brand new Smart Ring on the run - get one for only $85 in duty free!!!
A "letter of admiration" for Paul & Max from the CEO of Tabletochki:
Dear Paul
On behalf of the entire Tabletochki team, I want to thank you and Max for choosing to stand with children undergoing cancer treatment in Ukraine.
We greatly admire that, despite the postponement and relocation of this year’s Kyiv Unbroken Marathon, you and your son Max are still planning to come to Kyiv on 11 October - the original marathon date - to run a marathon distance through the city and raise funds for children supported by Tabletochki.
It both breaks and mends my heart that this run has such deep personal meaning for you: honoring your daughter Brontë, who was taken by leukemia at the age of 12 but continues to fight the disease through your actions and efforts. Over the years, you have turned your and Brontë’s tragic experience with the disease into extraordinary support for children with cancer, raising both funds and awareness, including for Tabletochki. I deeply admire you and appreciate everything you do.
Today, as children in Ukraine continue their cancer treatment amid the ongoing war, this solidarity from abroad means a great deal to us.
I am grateful to you and Max for standing with the children and families under Tabletochki's care, and to SEKONDA for supporting your initiative. I warmly encourage others to join you by supporting your fundraising campaign through JustGiving and by spreading awareness about paediatric cancer.
Thank you, Paul and Max, for bringing the stories of Ukrainian children to an international audience and for reminding people that, even from thousands of kilometers away, it is possible to stand by a child through cancer.
With gratitude and admiration,
Viacheslav Bykov
CEO, Tabletochki Charity Foundation