An Event in Support of Scholarships for Future Doctors

On May 17, 2026, Pleven will once again host an event that is difficult to describe simply as a marathon. For the twelfth consecutive year, the Friendship Marathon will transform the city center into a gathering place for professional athletes, amateurs, children, families, and volunteers—people with diverse backgrounds and motivations, united by the desire to be part of something meaningful: the marathon’s cause.

And for this year’s edition, the charitable cause supports education by providing scholarships for medical students through the BCause Foundation’s “Get Ready to Succeed” program. The initiative targets students with excellent academic performance who have lost a parent or grown up without parental care. The partnership with the program continues for the fourth consecutive year; during the 2025/2026 academic year, 158 young people are scholarship recipients, and four of the scholarships were funded by donations collected during the 11th Friendship Marathon in Pleven.

The BCause Foundation notes: “Every year, our partnership with the Pleven Friendship Marathon supports more and more young people who have chosen education as their path to success. Sports and education go hand in hand, fostering discipline and perseverance, and offering a real chance for positive change in life. We would like to thank the Pleven Friendship Marathon for its long-standing and consistent support.”

The unique character of the Pleven Friendship Marathon is also evident in its format. At the starting line, you’ll find both experienced runners and people just discovering the joy of running, and everyone can find their own distance—the classic 42.2 km marathon, the 21.1 km half-marathon, the 10.55 km race, the 2×10.55 km relay, or the DECATHLON—a 3 km fun run. A special place is reserved for the youngest participants through the VIDAS Run Kids children’s race, which gives children aged 6 to 12 the opportunity to have their first encounter with the sport in a supportive and friendly environment.

The race will start at 9:00 a.m. from the central square in front of the mausoleum, and the course—starting and finishing in the heart of Pleven—will once again take the race beyond the confines of the competition and turn it into an experience for the entire city.

Accessibility is one of the event’s guiding principles. Participation is free for children, for participants in the 3 km run, for people with disabilities and for veterans over 60 years of age. In the last edition, over 900 participants from 13 countries took part in the marathon, including 600 children and people with diverse abilities, which establishes the event as a true celebration of movement and inclusion.

The main sponsor of the 12th Pleven Friendship Marathon is EUROINS. The event is organized by Eyes Open in partnership with the Municipality of Pleven and is made possible with the support of VIDAS, Nuvei, and PwC – companies that consistently support the development of sports and socially significant causes.

The marathon program also includes a special cross to promote inclusion for people with special needs and diverse abilities, organized in partnership with Maria’s World Foundation and JAMBA. The event’s sports partner is DECATHLON, organizer of the “DECATHLON – 3 km Run” and the “DECATHLON – Sport for Everyone” initiative, through which the central part of Pleven will be transformed into an open zone for sports activities for people of all ages and fitness levels—including pets.

Volunteers from various countries and communities are also involved in the preparations, contributing with their support to the friendly spirit and atmosphere of the marathon.

“For us, this has never been just a sports competition. It is a community and a cause that grow year after year,” shares Stanimira Georgieva from the social enterprise Eyes-Open, a co-organizer of the event.