Zoran Dedić successfully completed a charity marathon for children with developmental disabilities

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Employee of the Municipality of Stari Grad Zoran Dedić, a marathon runner and humanitarian, successfully ran his first solo charity marathon of 42.2 kilometers, which he ran to help children with developmental disabilities.

The first kilometers of the marathon to help children with disabilities were bought by the mayor, mr. Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, and the secretary of the state administration body, mr. Alma Destanović. In a sign of support for this exceptional project, in addition to the purchased kilometers, Mayor Hadžibajrić welcomed Dedić after the marathon, congratulated him on successfully completing the race and his humane idea to help those most in need in this difficult situation, and symbolically presented him with a medal.

Dedić ran the marathon from the Municipality of Stari Grad building to Dariva and back, completing it in 4:16:46.

"I succeeded. I am tired, but most importantly, I managed to fulfill my mission and run the marathon without injuries. Thank you to everyone who supported me during this race," said Dedić.

Zoran is one of the most successful recreational runners in the entire region, and he has been actively running for 26 years, having completed over 250 races, mostly marathons and half-marathons. He decided to undertake this endeavor to support those most in need through his sports engagement in these difficult circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"I love children, I love to help, and all of this comes from love. My goal is not to promote myself, but my goal is to raise citizens' awareness and for everyone to help those most in need in their own way," Dedić stated before the start of the race. He hopes that a large number of people will join the initiative, as has been the case with Mayor Hadžibajrić and the secretary of the state administration body, Destanović.

All collected funds will be paid to children with developmental disabilities. These are children from Stari Grad with psychological and physical disabilities, from kindergarten to high school age, who attend the Mjedenica Institute, the "Vladimir Nazor" Center, and the Center for Hearing and Speech Rehabilitation, and who are registered with the municipal Service for Education, Culture and Sport, through which the project is being realized. In the time of the coronavirus pandemic, when all normal life processes have been halted, categories like this are particularly affected, so every sold kilometer and every paid mark will be of great importance to them.

The marathon was monitored by judge Islam Đugum, one of the greatest BH runners, a former BH national team member and state record holder of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The entire project was realized through the municipal Service for Education, Culture and Sport, which monitored Zoran during the marathon and ensured that everything went smoothly.