Vilmate Runs for Ukraine on
Global Running Day
Vilmate news Every first Wednesday of June, people around the world celebrate Global Running Day – a day to get moving and remember that staying active means staying alive. This year, it fell on June 4, 2025.
At Vilmate, it’s not just about running. For us, it’s about unity, shared values, and supporting causes that matter.
That’s why this year, we joined the Run4Ukraine initiative. It’s our way to combine charity, team spirit, and the joy of being part of a global movement.
Our Story with Run4Ukraine
We’ve been part of the Run4Ukraine project for a long time – and for good reason. It means a lot to us.
In 2023, Doug Pauly, CEO of Northern Fruit Company in Wenatchee, launched a heartfelt initiative to support Ukraine during the war. His goal was to show solidarity and raise awareness through running — a simple yet powerful gesture that combined physical action with a symbolic message of support.
From the very beginning, the Vilmate team was involved in the effort. We built the Run4Ukraine website and mobile app – and we’ve continued to support and improve them ever since. We recently redesigned the platform to make it easier to use, more modern, and visually appealing. One of our goals is to help the project grow and attract major sponsors. More importantly, we aim to attract even more people from around the world to the movement.
Today, Doug Pauly and Northern Fruit Company remain the project’s leading investors. Their dedication and personal involvement continue to inspire. We’re proud to be part of this important and truly heartfelt story.
More About Run4Ukraine
Run4Ukraine is a global initiative that unites runners from around the world in support of Ukraine. The idea is simple: participants form teams and run or walk 5 kilometers at any time and from anywhere – and for every person who finishes, sponsors donate $10 to help Ukraine.
How Run4Ukraine works:
- Form a Team – Get together with friends, coworkers, or anyone who shares your values.
- Register – Sign up on the Run4Ukraine website or app. Each team gets a unique code.
- Run or Walk – Every team member runs or walks 5 km whenever and wherever they like.
- Upload a Photo – After finishing, participants upload a selfie to the team page.
- Donations – For every finisher, sponsors donate $10 to support Ukraine.
100% of the money raised goes to four nonprofit organizations providing real help to Ukraine:
- United24 – Medical Aid: Delivers emergency medical supplies and equipment to field hospitals.
- United24 – Rebuild Ukraine: Helps restore critical infrastructure like schools and hospitals.
- Doctors Without Borders: Offers medical support in frontline areas and refugee camps.
- Voices of Children: Gives psychological care to children affected by the war.
At Vilmate, we combine Global Running Day with a cause that truly matters. Run4Ukraine is the perfect way to move with purpose.
Our Experience with Run4Ukraine 2025
This year, the Vilmate team joined the Run4Ukraine initiative – and did it in our way. We didn’t organize a group run. Instead, each participant completed their 5K individually, in their city, and at a time that suited them best.
Even though we were running in different places, we were united by a shared goal and the values that Run4Ukraine stands for. Some of our teammates wore official project gear.
Those who couldn’t participate in the run chose to support the initiative through direct donations. That was also an essential part of our contribution.
Our motto — “Dream in pixels. Move like a runner. Code like a pro.” It reflects both how we think and how we work — with creativity, energy, and dedication. And we’re not just developing the platform behind the scenes — we’re also testing it in real life, one step at a time.
And we’re especially grateful to Run4Ukraine for giving us a reason to trade our office chairs for running shoes – at least for a little while.
