August Running Event to Take Place in Astana, Benefiting Patients on Organ Transplant Waitlist
**Astana Half Marathon and Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy Race: Promoting Health and Organ Transplant Awareness in Kazakhstan**
The city of Astana, Kazakhstan, played host to two significant running events on June 1 and August 10. The Astana Half Marathon, now in its fourth year, attracted over 6,000 participants from 38 countries, marking it as the biggest running event of the year in Astana [1]. Meanwhile, the Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy race, organised by the Heart Center Foundation, aimed to raise awareness and support organ transplant patients.
The Astana Half Marathon, organised by the "Courage to Be First" Corporate Fund, offered a new, flat course that showcased the urban scenery of Kazakhstan’s capital, running from Independence Square. This year's event accommodated a larger number of participants and provided an improved runner experience [1].
While the exact linkage to organ transplant support in the Astana Half Marathon is not detailed, Kazakhstan has been expanding its medical availability and expertise in organ transplant and specialized healthcare. International collaborations, such as new medical universities and hospitals being built in Astana, are evidence of this growth [2][3].
The Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy race, on the other hand, is directly linked to organ transplant support. The event is one of the Heart Center Foundation's key initiatives, with the aim of advancing cardiac surgery, cardiology, and transplantology in Kazakhstan. Over 3,700 people require kidney transplants, while 342 are waiting for liver or heart transplants, and around 30 patients need lung transplants [4].
Notable participants in the Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy event include Shaimergenova, a kidney recipient and ambassador of the Heart Center Foundation, and transplant recipients Anar Shaimergenova and Andrei Shelestyuk. Shelestyuk, who underwent a successful liver transplant less than two years ago, is now a long-distance runner, training for cross-country events up to 51 kilometers [5].
The Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy race offers two distances, 1.3 kilometers and 10 kilometers, for participants to choose from. Every participant in the race will receive a symbolic medal in the shape of a stone [6]. The event also features live music, activities, a food court, a fair, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for those not participating in the race.
Thousands of people are expected to participate in the event on August 10, including doctors, donor families, transplant recipients, business representatives, government officials, and the public. The first race drew 60 people, and the number has grown significantly since then [7].
In summary, the Astana Half Marathon and the Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy race serve as platforms to promote athleticism, community health spirit, and organ transplant awareness in Kazakhstan. These events are connected to broader healthcare activities and awareness in the country, including organ transplant support as part of Kazakhstan’s expanding medical infrastructure and public health focus [1][2][3].
References: [1] Kazakhstan's Astana Half Marathon Attracts Record Number of Participants. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.kazakhtimes.kz/article/42685/kazakhstans-astana-half-marathon-attracts-record-number-of-participants [2] Astana Medical University to Open in 2023. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.astanatimes.com/2020/11/astana-medical-university-to-open-in-2023/ [3] Kazakhstan's Healthcare System: Progress and Challenges. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.kazakhtimes.kz/article/42393/kazakhstans-healthcare-system-progress-and-challenges [4] Organ Transplant Waiting List in Kazakhstan. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.heartcenter.kz/en/services/transplantology/transplant-waiting-list [5] Transplant Recipients Participate in Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy Race. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.heartcenter.kz/en/news/transplant-recipients-participate-in-juregimnin-jenimpazy-race [6] Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy Race Offers Symbolic Medals to Participants. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.heartcenter.kz/en/news/juregimnin-jenimpazy-race-offers-symbolic-medals-to-participants [7] Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy Race Expects Thousands of Participants. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.heartcenter.kz/en/news/juregimnin-jenimpazy-race-expects-thousands-of-participants
- Amidst the burgeoning focus on mental health in today's society, organizing fitness-and-exercise events like the Astana Half Marathon can stimulate discussions about the interplay between physical health, athleticism, and mental well-being.
- As mental health is increasingly recognized as an integral part of overall health and wellness, the Heart Center Foundation's initiatives, such as the Juřegımnıñ Jenımpazy race, aim to bolster mental health by fostering a sense of community and support among organ transplant patients and their families.
