Marathon in Ukraine
On 1 September 2024, Bromont Ultra ambassador, actress, and ultramarathoner Anne-Lise Nadeau completed a marathon in Irpin to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and to support ReliefAid’s efforts to rebuild homes in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Nikopol.
Building on the longstanding partnership between ReliefAid and Bromont Ultra, Anne-Lise travelled to Kyiv with ReliefAid founder Mike Seawright to accompany our team on the ground, delivering reconstruction materials to families in need.
During her journey, Anne-Lise gained insight into daily life in Ukraine, witnessing how people navigate the challenges of living in a war zone and the deep scars the conflict has left on the country. Supported by a local running club in Irpin and the ReliefAid team, she completed the marathon in a town that had endured the war within its own community.
Mike and Anne-Lise at a war memorial in Irpin after the bridge was struck by a missile (left) and a damaged building in Irpin (right).
“Power plants were hit; the city was without electricity. I wrote to my Ukrainian colleague to discuss the danger, the risks, with the idea of turning back. She reassured me and told me she was going to work in a cafe in the morning. At that moment, I understood that people live with war every day. They try to live normally despite everything.”
– Anne-Lise Nadeau
Anne-Lise in the media in Canada
23 August 2024
She’s going to run a marathon in the ruins of Ukraine to help rebuild the country – The Voice of the East
23 August 2024
Run a marathon and rebuild Ukraine – Le’Estrie Today Show, 107.7fm
https://www.fm1077.ca/audio/643509/courir-un-marathon-et-rebatir-l-ukraine
27 August 2024
Ultramarathoner to run in Ukraine – M105
https://m105.ca/nouvelle/une-ultramarathotienne-va-courir-en-ukraine/
29 August 2024
She is in Ukraine to run a marathon: “It’s a daily life that we don’t know” – 98.5fm
https://www.985fm.ca/audio/644543/c-est-un-quotidien-qu-on-ne-connait-pas-anne-lise-nadeau
29 August 2024
Quebec ultramarathoner running to help rebuild houses in Ukraine – Anne-Lise and Mike Seawright interviewed on Quebec AM with Julia Caron
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-87/clip/16091011
1 September 2024
Marathon in Ukraine: Anne-Lise Nadeau runs for the cause – Ohdio, Radio Canada.
2 September 2024
Anne-Lise Nadeau takes stock of her marathon in Ukraine – Ohdio, Radio Canada.
2 September 2024
A Quebecer’s race in the ruins of Irpin – La Presse
3 September 2024
Running a marathon to help rebuild Ukraine – Radio-Canada, Broadcast First the Info
More about Anne-Lise and the Bromont Ultra
Check out Bromont Ultra and Anne-Lise Nadeau.