A New Year's toy exhibition of the "Ball of Kindness" charity marathon has opened in Vitebsk.

Sixth-grader Nikita Makarov from Vitebsk District wants an unusual gift for the New Year. He needs an electric attachment for his wheelchair to get to school independently. The charity New Year marathon "Sphere of Kindness" will help fulfil the dream of the boy and other children with health problems.
Specialists and clients of social service institutions in Belarus and Russia made Christmas tree decorations in the style of their native region with their own hands and presented them at an exhibition-auction in the "Vitebsk" concert hall. The starting price for each Christmas bauble is 50 rubles. The proceeds will be transferred to families from Vitebsk and Vitebsk District raising children with disabilities.

– The first "Spheres of Kindness" were made at the Territorial Centre for Social Services of the Population of Vitebsk District; the idea of the marathon, which was joined by 76 social service institutions, belongs to the director of this institution, Ekaterina Lazovskaya. A total of 100 spheres have been created, – said Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies. – The state provides constant support to people with disabilities, but any help from caring people is also important; simple human participation supports faith in good.

Boris Efremov, Chairman of the Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee, invited managers and teams to join the marathon. He expressed confidence that next year the "Sphere of Kindness" will expand its borders and the number of its participants will increase.

Nikita Makarov's mother, Tatyana, thanked everyone who joined this good cause: – My son is growing up in a large family; he is the sixth, youngest child. A miracle has already happened to him once: thanks to the support of the "Zhizn" (Life) charitable foundation, funds were raised for Nikita's surgery in St. Petersburg, after which he is no longer bedridden – he can move around the street in a wheelchair and use a walker indoors.

At the opening of the "Shar Dobra" (Ball of Kindness) exhibition, Nikita and his mother, like other visitors, interacted with the artists, and took photos with life-size animated puppets, among which Cheburashka became the public's favourite. The cartoon character also gathered people of golden age around him, for whom he has been a beloved television character since childhood.

Raisa Kovalenko, a visitor of the department for the elderly at the Liozno Territorial Centre for Social Services to the Population, shared that she gladly made a New Year's toy that could bring a child's dream closer. Lyudmila Stankevich, head of a club at the Territorial Centre for Social Services to the Population of the Braslav District, shared that while creating handmade Christmas baubles, she and her colleagues put all the warmth of their hearts into them.

During the exhibition, from December 11 to 17, master classes on creating New Year's compositions and tasting confectionery products are being held. You can help children and hurry to reserve your ball of kindness, which will adorn your home Christmas tree after the marathon ends.

vitebsk-region.gov.by