Our heroes are back in Bogovađa

For the second year in a row, the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation, together with the Red Cross of Belgrade and the Sports Association of Persons with Disabilities of Belgrade, is organizing a stay for children with disabilities at the Red Cross of Belgrade’s resort in Bogovađa.

The first group of forty-four children, accompanied by their caretakers, is spending summer days in the greenery of the surrounding resort, where they will take part in a six-day sports camp in preparation for the upcoming season, guided by experienced and professional coaches.

The Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation has set the improvement of the status of persons with disabilities as one of its primary goals. With that in mind, and in cooperation with the Red Cross of Belgrade and the Sports Association of Persons with Disabilities of Belgrade, the foundation laid the groundwork in 2024 for a summer gathering in Bogovađa — not only to help children with disabilities prepare for the upcoming autumn sports season, but also to provide them with opportunities for socializing and spending time with special guests.

This year, singer Ana Stanić visited the camp and took part in the karaoke night with the participants.

On that occasion, Ana told us that she immediately accepted the invitation and added:
“Every initiative that supports children with disabilities is worthy of attention, praise, and admiration. When you see the sincerity in their eyes and what they have to share with us, it’s truly healing. A big thank you to the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation, the Red Cross, and the Sports Association of Persons with Disabilities of Belgrade for this wonderful synergy we’re witnessing today in Bogovađa.”

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

“Essentially, everything the Belgrade Marathon does — and in this case, the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation as well — is done with the intention of creating something lasting, something that becomes a tradition. We plan to send even more groups of children in the future, just as we did this year compared to the last.
This is a special form of unity between the Belgrade Marathon and all the people who run and support it — people who now have the opportunity to donate to the most vulnerable by ‘buying kilometers’ for their loved ones.
I’m truly glad to be back in Bogovađa and that we once again have the chance to organize this beautiful gathering for children with disabilities, together with the Red Cross and SSOSIB.
I’m also proud of our foundation and its campaign ‘SMS for a Kilometer’, through which runners and their supporters can donate by sending a text message to support the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation. Sending the message ‘HEROJI’ to 3023 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, throughout the year, people come to learn and rest, and now it’s time for children with disabilities to benefit as well. A big thank you to the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation, thanks to which the Red Cross of Belgrade, together with SSOSIB, organizes recovery and social gatherings for children with disabilities.
This initiative is important because it supports not only the children but entire families who get the chance to relax in this beautiful environment,” said Dr. Milan Mirković, President of the Red Cross of Belgrade.

On this occasion, Draženko Mitrović, President of the Association of Persons with Disabilities, told us that the stay of the association’s members at the summer camp in Bogovađa is very important because their days are filled with quality activities such as sports, socializing, singing, and various workshops. He added:
“This is the second year in a row that we are spending the summer in Bogovađa, and I believe it will be repeated many more times in the future, because this support is not only for the children but also for their caregivers, who receive a special kind of help and support in this way.”