Step Up Orphan Opportunity Centre

I am a student at the Step Up Orphan Opportunity Centre. I love cycling. Last year I ran 10km for the first time and I really enjoyed it so I continued running in my spare time, – Irina Abramova

Sport is my life and this is confirmed in my love of football and the fact that I play for the Centre’s football team. As a child, my favourite subject was P.E. I must admit that I’ve only ever ran short distances, never long distances – and if I manage to prepare, I will run alongside the others. This will be an incentive and a new challenge for me, so I will prepare properly – and add another accomplishment to my list. Of course, it’s worth it for the drive and adrenaline rush, – Mikhail Sokolovsky

I was a volunteer at the Centre’s summer camp. For the last two years I have been running fairly regularly. I recently ran the musical half-marathon. I really like large-scale runs. They always lift my mood, especially if it’s in aid of a good cause, – Tamara Pashinova

I’m a graduate of the Step Up Centre and for a few years I’ve been volunteering at the Belsky-Ustye summer camps, helping to work with students. I really love sport, so I decided to train as an athletics coach. I received my diploma this year so I can start working now. Three years ago I ran the Moscow marathon for the first time and realised that it was really cool and that nothing is impossible! – Maxim Mironov

My whole life, I have been sure that sport and I are polar opposites, completely incompatible. In every sporting activity and event, I was on the sidelines – and happy about it. And somehow, a couple of years ago I decided to take control of my weak self and signed up to the gym. And off I went… Gym, pilates, personal training, dancing, yoga – I tried and learnt everything. And this year I’ve come across running! I never thought I’d enjoy it but I’m already preparing to run my first official 10km. Running – what could be more simple?! – Ina Kulagina

I work at the Step Up Orphan Opportunity Centre as the coordinator of summer camps at an institution in the Pskov region. At school I played various kinds of sport – cross-country running, badminton, water polo and swimming. But then, for the next 10 years I didn’t pay much attention to sport. Nevertheless, I did take part in the 10km run last year with other Step Up students. From then, I started running more and more often, – Howard Amos

I’ve been playing sport since I was at school- tennis and basketball. While I was studying at the institute I swam regularly. In the summer I prefer cycling and hiking while in the winter I prefer cross-country skiing. I started running in 2013. I was inspired to take part in the marathon when I saw the work at the Belsky Ustye summer camp. Students from the orphanage and volunteers had such energy and a thirst for life – it gave me the strength to make it to the end! – Adi Shtikov

I was a volunteer at this summer’s camp in Belsky Ustye. Unfortunately, we had to wake up at 6am there so I never succeeded in a pre-breakfast run 🙂 In general, I don’t run very regularly but to see some of the other volunteers and go for a 5km run around Moscow is always fun. As well as running I row every weekend and I also love swimming, – Alexander Levinsky

I have never taken part in a big run before; running for me is a way of clearing my mind and regaining consciousness – usually in the evenings at Serebryanni Bor amongst the fir trees, breathing in the fresh air. So taking part in a run like this is out of my comfort zone. This is exactly what the Step Up Centre is striving for – to go outside a certain framework and not be afraid. As well as running, I practice yoga and boxing in my spare time to relax and find inner harmony, – Ekaterina Fomina

I work at the Step Up Orphan Opportunity Centre. I started running practically as soon as I could walk! I run far and diligently. I think my attraction to running lies in the fact that you are alone with your thoughts – and it’s good for you. You can listen to music and it’s generally a lovely way to start the day! You can do it on a work day or on the weekends, – Sergei Chernenko