106 mln for Better Future: Charitable Goals of the Almaty Marathon

The Almaty Marathon – the largest running event in Central Asia organised by “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund and a leader among Central Asian races – brought together  more than 15,000 runners from 62 countries this year. After each marathon, a portion of the proceeds from entry fees is annually donated to charity. This year, thanks to the support of our participants and additional contributions from our corporate clients, we have set a new record of KZT 79 million, which is 10 million more than it was raised last year. The money raised helps the Almaty Marathon to implement its mission that is to develop a healthy and active community and make sports affordable to everyone.

“Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund has been working for charitable causes since its very foundation and for just 12 years has implemented more than 30 charitable projects worth over KZT 277 million in Almaty and Almaty Region. For this time, the Fund has commissioned dozens of football fields, climbing walls, sports grounds and special equipment to develop sensorimotor integration, neuromuscular system and to adapt children to life in society. In the previous year, we delivered new equipment and sports facilities to 8 institutions with over a thousand children residing or studying in the institutions. 

The Fund continues to evolve and has been implementing a new strategy since 2024 which is aimed at expanding its charitable activities. The Fund now cooperates with other charitable foundations and supports their projects. Cooperating with various foundations allows the Fund to implement a wider range of projects and provide systemic support to those in need.

“All our events form an inclusive environment open to anyone and everyone and it doesn’t matter what is your gender, age, physical ability, running experience or other pecularities. In recent years, we have successfully involved over 3,000 children in sports-related activities. We believe the sport is an effective means to strengthen your health and develop the nation as a whole. The new strategy focuses on systemic solutions that will address the root causes of the identified problems. This is an important step towards deeper and longer-term changes that will have a significant impact," explains Saltanat Kazybayeva, Executive Director of “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund.

Our first partner within the new concept is the AYALA Charitable Foundation, which has been supporting children with special needs for many years. Over the past 17 years, AYALA has become the only foundation specialising in neonatology in Kazakhstan and provided  assistance to 242 children’s health and education institutions in 67 cities and towns across the country.

In the coming year, “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund in collaboration with the AYALA Foundation will implement two significant projects with a combined budget of KZT 106,241,284. These projects are aimed to reduce the infant disability rate in Shymkent and Turkestan Region, which are characterised by the highest birth rates in Kazakhstan. The problem remains urgent with approximately 3,500 children born with congenital or hereditary diseases each year and over 100,000 children already living  with disabilities, which is twice higher than in 2010.  To reduce the disability rates it is important to support innovative projects to diagnose congenital defects. They are ‘I See the World' and 'One Day Clinic'. A total of KZT 79 million raised during the Almaty Marathon will be used to implement the One Day Clinic project with the remaining amount to be raised by other events. 

The One Day Clinic project (KZT 79,541,284) aims to enhance the accessibility and efficacy of early fetal abnormality diagnosis that will help reduce infant disability rates in Turkistan Region by 40%. The project observes European standards and assumes the installation of a microscope and laboratory equipment for FISH studies at the Regional Perinatal Center No. 2. The leading region in terms of birth rates needs new equipment in order to diagnose fetal abnormalities timely in more pregnant women and provide the necessary treatment. Over the course of the next 15 years, the microscope will assist up to 30,000 pregnant women in the region.

As part of the I See the World project (KZT 26,700,000), the Fund will install a retinal camera at the Municipal Perinatal Centre in Shymkent. According to medical officers in Kazakhstan, approximately 36% of premature infants suffer retinopathy. This disease often leads to permanent loss of vision in children and is one of the most common causes of disability in newborns worldwide. It’s worth noting that there are no external signs of retinopathy. To prevent the disease, certified ophthalmologists should examine premature infants at 3-4 weeks of life using special equipment. Only in this way, it is possible to see early signs of the disease and to refer the infant timely for surgical laser correction.  

Shymkent is among top three cities in terms of birth rates in Kazakhstan, but there is no ophthalmological screening for premature infants and the necessary equipment for objective diagnosis and documentation of retinopathy. The I See the World project will enable local specialists to timely examine newborns suffering the disease, diagnose and treat them to stop the epidemic of blindness. Over the course of 10-15 years, the retinal camera will help examine 24,000 children to have their vision maximally preserved.

By supporting the Almaty Marathon you contribute to the development of sports and a healthy community in Kazakhstan. Please read more about our previous projects here.