Run – save the little preemies lives! Dmytro Stryzhov

Dmytro Stryzhov – Member of the Committee on Education, Science, Family, Youth and Sports, a successful businessman, master of public administration in the field of national security, the head of the holding of security companies "Sheriff" (best private security structure in Ukraine, with best financial and economic indicators and recognized leader in the security industry), public figure, member of the Executive Committee of Sport Committee of Ukraine and Vice-President of the Federation of Pankration fighting of Ukraine, joined the CF "Svichado" to participate in Charity halfmarathon Kiev, which is in within NovaPoshtaKyivHalfMarathon 2016. Within the Charity Half Marathon Dmitry is fundraising 85 700 UAH to purchase lamps for phototherapy.

All newborns have a tendency to develop jaundice. It usually appears after a few days of age and reaches a critical point for 2-4 days in term born children, and 5-7 days in premature births. Jaundice occurs in 80% of premature babies. There are three causes of jaundice.

First, when a baby is born, it's blood has more erythrocytes (red blood cells) than left later in life. The second reason that the red blood cells of the newborn collapse much faster than the adult's. And the destruction produces yellow pigment, bilirubin. Bilirubin is then converted by the liver into soluble form and excreted from the body through the intestines. Third reason – liver of the premature baby is immature and is unable to transform and take out the bilirubin. Thus bilirubin enters the bloodstream and body tissues, and baby becomes yellow.

A large number of bilirubin can damage the brain, because it is toxic and nerve cells die at high concentrations of it in the blood. There are two methods of treatment or reduction of bilirubin, a phototherapy (light therapy with special lamps) or blood transfusion (to replace blood of the child to donors' – without high bilirubin).

Blood transfusion is a very aggressive method, and has a lot of complications and side effects. Today, worldwide the main and the most effective treatment of newborn jaundice is phototherapy.

Phototherapy is a light treatment, based on the conversion of soluble bilirubin into a form that is non-toxic and is rapidly excreted from the body.

In the department for premature infants there already are two phototherapy lamps, but it is very few. Many babies just "wait in line" to receive phototherapy. It should not be so! It is impossible to choose whom to be healthy and whom not. All children should have the same chance for health! Therefore, we ask for your help to purchase lamps for phototherapy to the department for premature newborns Rivne Regional Children's Hospital!

"Participation in the charity marathon allows all to come together for the salvation of little preemies, because children are our future and our hope. For me, this is not the first marathon. Personally, I take part in sports competitions of various complexity. In 2015 i finished the distance in Half Ironman, participated in two marathons – the Nice-Cannes Marathon and Frankfurt's. In the 2016 i plan to overcome the full distance of Ironman. I'll run in a NovaPoshtaKyivHalfMarathon 2016 – 21 km and i am sure that every kilometer, every meter and centimeter of the distance bring closer the health to children and the rest to their parents".

Even 1 UAH is a huge help! Let's run for small Preemies!