During the 107-kilometer running trip Riga-Valmiera, which took place last week, its participants and volunteer helpers collected 5453.10 euros for the guardian angel of the event, eight-year-old Gustavs Marcis Spilva from Vecpiebalga, who is a child with movement disorders from birth. The symbolic 107 euros were donated by 22 donors.
At the closing event of the Riga-Valmiera children’s rehabilitation center “POGA”, the donated amount was announced by the head of the charity organization “Ziedot.lv” Rūta Dimanta, adding that Gustav should start school, but communication with other people requires a special device. With this significant donation, it will be possible to purchase it, as well as perform training and rehabilitation procedures.
The renewed Riga-Valmiera race has been raising funds for children with disabilities in Vidzeme for the sixth year in a row, and previous years have shown that one and a half hundred participants and volunteer helpers can raise more than 4,000 euros for a Vidzeme resident who has a dream of running and running.
Funds donated by Rīga-Valmiera for children with movement disorders
In 2020, for Gustavs Mācis Spilva – 5453.10 euros
In 2019, Undine Ozolina – 4170.47 euros
In 2018, for Krista Spirģe – 4194.09 euros
In 2017, Lāsma Zukure – 3249.69 euros
In 2016, for Jēkabs Bluķis – 3051.17 euros
In 2015, Undine Ozolina – 2265.07 euros
In previous years, she helped Undīne from Cēsis, Jēkabs from Valmiera, Lāsma from Burtnieki, Krista from Jaunpiebalga.
Gustavs from Vecpiebalga grows up in a large family and has fought for his life and health from the very first moments of his life. The diagnosis made by the doctors was: congenital malformation of the central nervous system (CNS). Extensive porenciphalic cyst in the left hemisphere. Hydrocephalus. Diffuse muscular hypotonia with elements of increased muscle tone. Delay in psychomotor development.
During the race, funds were collected to purchase and learn an accessory “Tobii” at the children’s rehabilitation center “POGA”, with the help of which it would be easier for Gustavs to acquire knowledge in the first grade of Raiskums Primary School.
The purpose of the charity could be realized by transfer to the account of the public benefit organization “Ultrataka”, replenishing the donation box during the race or taking part in the charity auction at the closing event, where all funds were donated to little Gustav, thus replenishing the original amount. 22 donors donated a symbolic 107 euros.
It was previously reported that in the charity race on July 11, Riga-Valmiera, the 28-year-old record of the track of the living legend Georg Jermolayev (08:01:38) was broken, which was beaten by Pēteris Grīviņš (07:59:02), who is followed by Kristaps Magone ( 08:00:00). On the other hand, while running in rainy weather at night, the islander Diāna Džaviza was able to correct the result of the Olympian and walker Anita Liepiņa in 100 kilometers (8:50:58), becoming the third fastest Latvian women’s runner of all time (8:48:12) after Svetlana Ivanova (8:01:20) and Tamara Merzlikin (8:24:48).
Out of 142 entrants, 117 participants reached the finish line at the Simon Church doorway, including 36 out of 46 women. For the second time, the 107-kilometer distance was covered by Valmiera City Mayor Jānis Baiks and his coach Olympian Jolanta Dukure (19:53:00).
The race was supported by the University of Latvia, the Latvian Athletics Union, Valmiera City Municipality, Vidzeme Olympic Center, Stirnubuks and a number of companies, as well as half a hundred volunteer helpers.