For the second consecutive year, the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation, together with the Red Cross of Belgrade and the Belgrade Sports Association for Persons with Disabilities, has organized a residential stay for children with disabilities at the Red Cross of Belgrade resort in Bogovađa.

The first group of forty-four children, accompanied by their assistants, is spending the summer days in the greenery surrounding the resort, where they will spend six days training with professional and experienced coaches as part of their sports preparations for the upcoming season.

The Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation has set improving the position of persons with disabilities as one of its primary goals.
On this occasion, together with the Red Cross of Belgrade and the Belgrade Sports Association for Persons with Disabilities, the foundations for the summer gathering in Bogovađa were established in 2024, with the aim of enabling children with disabilities not only to prepare for the autumn sports season, but also to socialize and spend time together with special guests.

This year, the camp was visited by singer Ana Stanić, who joined the camp participants for a karaoke evening. On that occasion, Ana told us that she immediately accepted the invitation and added:
“Every initiative that helps children with disabilities deserves attention, praise, and admiration. When you see their sincere little eyes and what they have to share with us, it is truly healing. Many thanks to the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation, the Red Cross, and SSOSIB for this wonderful synergy today in Bogovađa.”

The children were also visited by Darko Habuš, Director of the Belgrade Marathon and Manager of the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation, Nemanja Radović, Secretary General of the Belgrade Sports Association for Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Milan Mirković, President of the Red Cross of Belgrade, and Draženko Mitrović, President of the Association of Persons with Disabilities.

“Essentially, everything that the Belgrade Marathon does — and in this case the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation as well — is aimed at turning these initiatives into a lasting tradition. We plan to send even more groups of children in the future, just as we have increased the number this year compared to last year.
This is a special form of togetherness between the Belgrade Marathon and all the people who run and support it, who now have the opportunity to donate for those most in need by purchasing kilometers for their loved ones.
I am very pleased to be back in Bogovađa and that we once again have the opportunity, together with the Red Cross and the Belgrade Sports Association for Persons with Disabilities, to organize this wonderful gathering for children with disabilities.
I am also proud of our Foundation and its ‘SMS for a Kilometer’ campaign, through which **runners and their supporters donate funds to the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation by sending SMS messages.”

“Sending a message with the text HEROJI to 3023 is something that means a great deal to all persons with disabilities,” said Darko Habuš, Director of the Belgrade Marathon and Manager of the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation, on this occasion.
“Here in Bogovađa, people learn and rest throughout the entire year, and now it is the turn of children with disabilities. Many thanks to the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation, thanks to which the Red Cross of Belgrade, together with the Belgrade Sports Association for Persons with Disabilities, organizes recovery stays and social activities for children with disabilities. This initiative is important because it supports not only the children, but also their entire families, who have the opportunity to relax in a wonderful environment,” said Dr. Milan Mirković, President of the Red Cross of Belgrade.

Draženko Mitrović, President of the Association of Persons with Disabilities, said on this occasion that the stay of the association’s members at the summer camp in Bogovađa is very important, as their days are filled with sports activities, socializing, music, and various workshops.
“This is already the second consecutive year that we are spending the summer in Bogovađa, and I believe it will be repeated many more times in the future. This initiative provides support not only to the children, but also to their caregivers, who through programs like this receive a special form of help and support.”