skimacedonia
About The Challenge:
Since the beginning of time, rivers have served as the lifeblood of communities and cultures. In the South-East Balkans lies such a river, known to the Macedonians as the ‘Vardar’ and to the Greeks as the ‘Axios’. A river that has withstood the test of time and, what we believe to be, a river of hope and friendship.
On June 11 – 2018, kayakers from both Macedonia and Greece will assemble at the source of the river located in Vrutok, Macedonia. Over the following seven days, a journey of 388km will take us to the end of the river in the Aegean Sea, before arriving at our final destination in Thessaloniki, Greece.
The purpose of this expedition is to demonstrate that citizens in both countries have the power to rise above political differences, to unite and collaborate along common goals and objectives, and to establish increased dialogue and friendship.
With this in mind, the Vardar / Axios Challenge invites donations to raise funds for two initiatives that will benefit the citizens of both Macedonia and Greece. The money raised for the 2018 Vardar / Axios Challenge will be distributed evenly to support two initiatives:
First: We will establish a charity fund to support organizations that directly help the most vulnerable groups of citizens in both Macedonia and Greece. This year’s proceeds will be donated to ‘SOS Children’s Villages International’ in Macedonia and Greece, to support the existing orphanages located in both Macedonia and Greece, which directly supports children without parental care and families at risk.
Second: We will establish a non-government organization to continue cross-border collaborative efforts among civil society groups, the business community and academia, between Macedonia and Greece.
On behalf of the team at Vardar / Axios Challenge, we welcome your participation in this years inaugural 2018 event.
Michael Penevski – CEO Vardar / Axios Challenge
