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The ceremonial opening of a traditional Christmas charity marathon "A warm word – a good deed" has taken place in the assembly hall of BelSU Social and Theological Department. The marathon is annually carried out by the university on the eve of New year and Christmas, to help the children deprived of parental warmth, to children with limited opportunities and also for support of needy families, lonely aged citizens etc. This year the marathon celebrates its 15^th anniversary. Guests of honor, representatives of university administration, sponsors, heads and students of child care rehabilitation facilities, teachers, employees and students of BelSU participated in a ceremony of opening.

The rector of NIU "BELGU", Professor Oleg Polukhin addressed guests with welcome speech. He thanked those who take part in a marathon and congratulated attendees on his opening.

“This year the marathon celebrates a small anniversary and we sum up the results of the work which was carried out all these years by all of you. The first kids who have participated in the event have already received passports. During this time, the marathon covered more than twenty childcare, rehabilitation and social facilities. During an annual marathon you supported several thousands of children. In the first marathon, we have collected 5000 rubles, last year within a marathon more than one million rubles have been collected. But it is impossible to measure the social impact of this marathon with any money, the most important is that the marathon changes people, makes them kinder, changes the world where these people live. I am grateful to everyone who care”, – he said.

After the concert, guests of a holiday have taken away letters with photos and wishes of children to Father Frost from a New Year tree to make children's dreams come true. In total pupils of childcare rehabilitation, facilities have written 687 letters with wishes. On a New Year tree in the opening day of a marathon more than 200 letters have been placed, all of them have been sorted. Other letters will be placed on New Year trees at institutes and faculties of BelSU

On the New Year’s Eve, on December 22 closing of the marathon will take place, and children will receive their long-awaited gifts.