On June 7, the third annual charity run in support of veterans with limb loss — Go to the Future 2026 — took place at Expocenter of Ukraine (VDNG) in Kyiv. The Future for Ukraine Foundation organized the event.
Despite the rain, the run brought together nearly 2,000 participants: runners, veterans with prosthetics, active-duty military personnel, business representatives, and engaged Kyiv residents who came to share gratitude to those who protected us at the cost of their own health and are now going through prosthetics and adaptation.
Today, thousands of military personnel and civilians are living with the consequences of war: amputations, loss of vision, hearing, and other injuries. Equal treatment and societal support help them return to full, active social lives more effectively. This is what Go to the Future 2026 is about — working together to build a future where acceptance of human diversity is a fundamental value.
This is already the third annual run, and this year it was held with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden.
The run's longstanding general partners are the International Prosthetics Center, Medical Center Orthotics & Prosthetics, and The Pfizer Foundation. The event was held with the support of partners: venue partner VDNG, sports partner Smartass, partner of the distance with dogs SharksCode, and official partners THRASH, Roosh Tech, Appflame, DataArt, Morshynska, Race Expert, FIZI, Intergal-Bud, and Hydria Electrolytes. The event organization this year was supported by the Naum&Co Events and Ahead Events.
The host of the Go to the Future 2026 run was TV presenter and influencer Nikita Dobrynin. The event kicked off with an energetic warm-up led by the international fitness club network Smartass and Volodymyr Zavadiuk, producer of some of Ukraine's most beloved shows and Head of Originals/Big Entertainment Shows at sweet.tv. Participants warmed up and had a great time despite the downpour.
The first to take the course were veterans with prosthetics and celebrity guests. Together, they completed the Unity Relay — a 400-meter race.
The relay featured 4 teams, each captained by a veteran who received prosthetics through the Future for Ukraine foundation: Oleksandr Chaika, Hlib Kravchenko, Ivan Artiukh, and veteran Oleksii Dernov.
Celebrity participants included alyona alyona, Anatoliy Anatolich, ALEKSEEV, Harik Korohodskyi, Yula, and Dasha Malakhova. Soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine also joined the Unity Relay.
For Hlib Kravchenko, a veteran of the 3rd Army Corps, this was already his second Go to the Future run — and a true family tradition, as he participated together with his fiancée. Hlib underwent a high-level amputation and, after prosthetics, returned to an active life and career, heading the recruitment department at a miltech company. For him, taking part in the run is a mission.
"As a veteran who returned to life and work after prosthetics, I show by my own example that quality prosthetics are available in Ukraine and that they help restore mobility and confidence in your own strength," — says Hlib.
Every participant of Go to the Future 2026 could choose their distance:
— 5 km or 2 km run
— Children's distances of 400 m and 800 m
— 1 km Distance with dog, with singer Dasha Astafieva as its ambassador
The Distance with the dog was also joined by the brave four-legged service dogs of the National Guard of Ukraine's canine unit.
At the finish line, the dogs could drink water, enjoy treats, play in a ball pool, and take a memorable photo in the rest zone set up by the distance partner — IT company SharksCode.
Participating in Go to the Future 2026 has become a unique team-building experience for Ukrainian and international businesses, as well as a way to demonstrate an active civic stance, commitment to inclusivity, and support for veterans with limb loss.
This year, 28 corporate teams took part in the run, including H&M, Milkbar, Morshynska, Pfizer, THRASH, MCOP Ukraine, Intergal-Bud, BetterMe, DataArt, Appflame, Vecherniy Kyiv, Future for Ukraine, Dopomogator, SECTA Run Club, ICAP, Clarity Ukraine, Pechersk School International (PSI Kyiv), a veterans and dogs team, CSD LAB, Esper Bionics, Live Media Hub, TV channel My Ukraine, Selepey, Volkovetsky & Partners, BudGild, SharksCode, Archimatika, The Burger, and The Cake.
For the second year in a row, the team of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Vinnytsia Oblast joined the run. The Vinnytsia rescuers supported the initiative online and completed distances of 2 and 5 kilometers.
Also among the returning participants was the team of the international prosthetics center Medical Center Orthotics & Prosthetics (MCOP) Ukraine, which, together with the Future for Ukraine foundation, has provided high-tech prosthetics and recovery for over 150 Ukrainian veterans and civilians. Among MCOP's patients are run participants who today are not only able to walk after limb loss, but live actively and inspire others.
After the finish line, participants were treated to a music set by Katro Zauber, a Kyiv-based DJ, making tired legs want to move again.
The charity run raised over UAH 1 million for prosthetics for Ukrainians with complex amputation cases. Thanks to these funds and the ongoing support of patron Vadym Stolar, the FFU foundation continues to provide prosthetics and recovery for Ukrainian veterans and civilians who have lost limbs as a result of the war.
For the third year in a row, the event has become a platform where civilians, military personnel, and veterans can engage in sport and be part of a unified, barrier-free society. Olena Nikolaienko, President of Future for Ukraine USA and the foundation's strategy and international fundraising lead, notes that this is the largest edition of the run in its three-year history:
"Last year we had 1,500 participants, this year already 2,000. This shows that people are becoming more open to veterans and understanding the importance of societal support. Building an inclusive society requires systemic change, but if each of us starts with ourselves — taking a step toward veterans, as the participants of our run do — a future without barriers becomes possible."
We sincerely thank the media partners of the Go to the Future 2026 charity run for their coverage of the event, for spreading the word about the foundation's initiatives, and for bringing new people to support our programs.
The article is produced by CO “CF “Future for Ukraine” with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CO “CF “Future for Ukraine” and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR Ednannia.
