Five Doctors, One Race and Life Beyond the Hospital

Astana is set to host the Jüregımnıñ Jeñımpazy (A Champion of My Heart) charity run on August 9, an event that celebrates a significant milestone in Kazakhstan's medical history: the nation's first heart transplant, performed in August 2012. Organized annually by the Heart Center Foundation (HCF), the run aims to raise awareness about the critical importance of organ donation and transplantation.

This year's event anticipates a large turnout, with over 7,000 participants and spectators expected to join the one, three, and 10-kilometer races. The run takes place against a backdrop of persistent demand for transplants. As of March 19, a total of 4,604 individuals, including 120 children, were on Kazakhstan's transplant waiting list. While transplants from deceased donors have nearly tripled, increasing from 23 in 2024 to 68 in 2025, a stark reality remains: 342 patients were unable to receive a transplant in time last year.

The race highlights the dedication of medical professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Five surgeons specializing in cardiac, transplant, neonatal, and pediatric care will participate, offering them a unique opportunity to connect with former patients and witness their return to everyday life. These surgeons have guided families through complex decisions, operated on fragile newborns, and supported intricate transplant procedures.

For cardiac surgeon Zhanna Rakish, the event holds personal significance. Having undergone a kidney transplant herself, she understands the patient's perspective intimately. She shared that her experience as a patient transformed her view of medicine, emphasizing the profound trust patients place in their medical teams and the emotional weight of procedures that are routine for doctors but life-altering for patients. "For the team, an operation is a complex, well-practiced protocol; for me, it is always a kind of sacred act," Rakish told The Astana Times. "Therefore, every movement that I make here, everything I say to patients, comes with a clear understanding that in front of you is a person with hope that requires careful treatment."

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For the team, an operation is a complex, well-practiced protocol; for me, it is always a kind of sacred act. I myself clearly remember that cold in the operating room, that feeling of fear of the unknown, and the boundless trust that you place in your colleagues. Therefore, every movement that I make here, everything I say to patients, comes with a clear understanding that in front of you is a person with hope that requires careful treatment. And something that was once given to me, I try to pass on to those people who come to me for help.