Artem has completed a large-scale campaign in support of bone marrow donation. The marathon started on September 1st in Ulan-Ude. The finish took place on November 10th in Arkhangelsk. Artem has 72 cities in Russia behind him, 3 thousand kilometers, more than 28 thousand potential donors and the loss of 14 kilograms of his own weight.
Now Artem has taken a break to rest. A mandatory point after the grueling race is a visit to the NMRC for Hematology of the Ministry of Health of Russia for a meeting with his doctor Olga Aleshina, who was in touch throughout the marathon, morally supporting the marathon runner. Arriving at the Center and seeing his portrait in the exhibition of the project "I will live!” Artyom was pleasantly surprised and at the same time confused about the fact that the photo was in the central part of the hall.
A few years ago, the life of Artem Aliskerov, an ordinary guy from Tver, was drastically changed by the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The treatment lasted 2 years and 7 months. Thanks to the doctors of the NMRC for Hematology, Artem won, but his ward mate, who needed a bone marrow transplant, unfortunately did not. In fact, Artem's medical history outlined a further path for him – to draw public attention to hematological diseases, popularize bone marrow donation and ask people not to remain indifferent.
Artem's autumn running project has become the most massive and socially significant project in the country. In each city, the athlete ran 42 kilometers, communicated with activists and the media. During the race, more than 28 thousand people joined the ranks of donors.
During the race, more than 28 thousand people joined the ranks of donors.
“Every day we checked how many people came to the blood transfusion stations and underwent typing. In fact, these figures were very motivating," says Artem. “A huge number of people ran with me. They told me their stories. I remember a guy from Tula who ran barefoot with me for 30 kilometers in the pouring rain. I will never forget the race in Ulan-Ude. With the candidate for master of sports Roman Trotsenko, we decided to run to the Datsan. So that you understand, the Buddhist temple is located on the mountain. We were told that the mountain is about 300 meters high. As a result, it turned out to be 2,100 meters. At the top, I realized that I had to run another 15 kilometers, but I no longer had the strength. I also remember a 78-year-old athlete from Belgorod by the last name Demonov. He ran more than 10 kilometers before the start, and then he ran the whole distance with me. In total, he has 55 kilometers on his account. It was all very inspiring.”
About experience and moments of despair
“ I think we have an interesting and useful project. I still don't fully realize what we have done. It will probably be like in the case of my last marathon on Lake Baikal. It is important what kind of legacy remains after us,” shared Artem. “To be honest, the race was far from easy. It seems to me that at the very beginning my body did not understand why I was putting it into a stressful state and began to actively signal and protest about it. It turns out that it was just necessary to endure. And indeed, on the seventh day of the race, the body adapted and rebuilt itself. It was getting easier and easier to run every day. And what beautiful places are there in Russia?! Turquoise Katun is a miracle of nature. In Gorno-Altaysk, I got a second wind. However, exactly in the middle of the marathon in Petrozavodsk, something happened. I caught myself thinking that I no longer wanted to run, and it was at this moment, before my eyes, that a river wave uprooted a tree. The next day there was a race in St. Petersburg and a very cordial meeting with volunteers and all concerned citizens at the finish line. And once again there was a desire to escape and complete the planned endeavors.
Weight loss
“In the Caucasus, I realized that I have a crazy metabolism. Despite the excellent daily diet, I was losing one kilogram a day. We even laughed that on the car that we specially branded for the marathon, “71 days and 72 cities”, we also need to add "71 kilograms lost.” Since the start, I have lost 14 kilograms.”
"We made a crack in the ice"
“I can't say that the marathon has made a huge contribution to the development of donation. Perhaps we made a crack in the ice. It is clear that for such large-scale cases, a huge "tanker" is needed. But it's important not to lower the bar here. Do not let this "dust" that has risen after the marathon settle. Then we will be able to reach those cherished figures that we dreamed of. Now, there is a lot of information about how and where you can join the bone marrow donor registry. Any caring person has a unique opportunity to help, to save a life. In conclusion, I want to give a big thank you to my entire team, to the people who were there not only physically, but also mentally. You are the best in the world! Thanks to you, we have made the impossible possible!”
