Russian Challenge 3rd Charity Ski Race to benefit Russian children with Down syndrome February 11th 2006, Bitsa, Moscow

With the support of the Public Relations Committee of the Moscow Government

General support

We are grateful to all the companies, organizations and private individuals who made a contribution towards rehabilitation programmes for children with Down syndrome.

Click to see the photo album of the Charity Ski Race 2006

The 3rd Charity Ski Race to benefit Russian children with Down syndrome is over. This year it got a new name "The Russian Challenge" and this name is perfectly justified, until the last few days before the race it was freezing cold and the organisers were worried whether the participants would come. Fortunately, on Saturday, 11th February it got warmer and only the most indecisive stayed at home. At about noon it all started: the skiers were getting personal numbers, spectators were gathering, organizers were fussing around, the tea was beginning to boil, and in the air one could feel the smell of barbecued meet. Parents and children for whom the event was organized were arriving.

The race started with a sports pistol shot fired by Harro van Graafeiland, Country General Manager, TNT Express, the leading provider of business to business express delivery services. For the 3rd year TNT Express underwrites main organising expenses of the event. The first start was given to the relay race of the corporate and family teams, they had to cover 4 500m laps. The Kuzhelyov family representing Femida Audit, Downside Up auditors were the first in the family competition. Amongst corporate teams a confident victory was gained by another auditing company (!) - Deloitte, one of the world's leaders in the field of audit, tax, consulting, financial advisory. Right after the relay race the most prepared and persistent participants were off for the 5 and 10 km distances. 3 and 1 km distances skiers followed shortly after. We must note that the Ski Race attracts not just ski enthusiasts but those who by their financial contribution support children with Down syndrome, there are many expats among them and those who ski for the first time in their lives just to participate in our project. The spectators, relatives and support groups didn't have to wait long, the finish was also fun, every participant was greeted by Andrey Gudalov, director of the Ski Race, senior trainer of the Russian triathlon team and the volunteers awarded the souvenirs. After the end of the sports part action gradually transferred to the food and entertainment area, where both skiers and spectators could get warm tea, mulled wine as well as stronger drinks and traditional shashlyk (barbecued meat). Those not tired took part in the games and dancing. And finally the long awaited award ceremony! The youngest participants were invited onto the pedestal first. Then winners in men's and women's competitions in 1, 3, 5, 10 km distances were awarded prizes and medals. One winner deserves special mention. The fastest woman in 1km distance was a young woman with Down syndrome, Maria Nefedova, who is a teacher's assistant in Downside Up Early Intervention Centre. And then the moment of glory came for the Deloitte team and Kuzhelev family, who received prizes for the 1st place in the relay race. From this day the C cup of the Charity Ski Race moved from TNT Express, the winner in 2005 to Deloitte until the next ski race! Our sincere congratulations to the winners and all participants of the Russian Challenge! We would like to thank all those who made a contribution for the work of Downside Up Early Intervention Centre. Thanks to the support of participating companies and private individuals Downside Up received about 600 000 roubles. Please click to see the protocols of the relay race. Please click to see the protocols of the personal competitions

Click to see the photo album of the Charity Ski Race 2006