JERSEY CITY, NJ —
July 31, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
Annual charity run/walk at Exchange Place supports ambulances for frontline medics.
On a Sunday morning next month, families will gather at J. Owen Grundy Park with blue and yellow shirts, sneakers laced, and a shared purpose. The 6th annual Vyshyvanka Charity Run/Walk isn’t just a race—it’s a lifeline.
Ukrainian Jersey City is hosting the event on Sunday, August 23rd at 9 a.m. at the park along the Hudson River waterfront. Registration is $45 for adults, but kids can join for free. That’s a deliberate choice, organizers say, to make it a family affair.
All proceeds go to the Ambulances for Ukraine initiative, which buys and delivers evacuation vehicles to combat medics on the front lines. These are the trucks that carry wounded civilians and soldiers to stabilization points and hospitals. They get shot at. They get blown up. They wear out. And they’re desperately needed.
The vyshyvanka is the traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt—a symbol of resilience, unity, and national identity. Participants are encouraged to wear theirs, or just blue and yellow, as they run or walk along the waterfront. Every registered runner gets a commemorative keepsake, courtesy of Ukrainian Jersey City.
Last year, the run raised enough to fund and deliver two vehicles, bringing the total to 23 since the initiative began. Each one represents medics who can actually reach the wounded. Each one is a direct answer to urgent requests from frontline medical teams.
This isn’t abstract charity. It’s concrete, life-saving equipment that goes straight to people who are making impossible choices every day. And it’s happening right here, in Jersey City, where a local Ukrainian community has turned grief into action.
The war in Ukraine is now in its third year. The need hasn’t faded—if anything, it’s grown more acute. Vehicles are destroyed faster than they can be replaced, and the cost of a single ambulance can mean the difference between life and death for dozens of people. That’s why events like this matter.
For Hudson County residents, this run is a chance to do something real. You don’t have to be Ukrainian to participate. You don’t have to be a runner either—walking counts. You just have to show up, maybe wear something blue and yellow, and put one foot in front of the other for an hour.
The organizers at Ukrainian Jersey City have seen the impact firsthand. They’ve heard from medics who used these vehicles to pull people from burning buildings. They’ve seen the gratitude in messages from frontline units. Last year’s event raised enough for two trucks, and they’re hoping to do even better this year.
“These vehicles are not just transportation,” the organization says. “They’re a vital resource that helps combat medics reach the wounded, evacuate patients, and provide lifesaving care when every minute counts.”
Registration is open now, and you can sign up online. The $45 fee for adults goes directly toward the cause. Kids run free, which means this can be a family tradition—a way to teach the next generation that they can make a difference in a world that feels overwhelming.
Mark your calendar for August 23rd. Bring the kids, bring your sneakers, bring your neighbors. The park is at Exchange Place, easy to reach by PATH or ferry, and there’s something powerful about standing by the water with people who refuse to look away.
The run starts at 9 a.m. sharp. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or just pushing a stroller, you’ll be part of something bigger than yourself. And that’s worth getting up early for.
Source: Hudson County View
