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By Setting Personal Example We Inspire Others to Take Care of their Health
28. Sep 2024.
About 30 employees of Hemofarm and Hemofarm Foundation took part in a 10 km-long bicycle ride, thus having demonstrated their support to the ‘Start Conversation, Change Route’ initiative of the Movement for Mental Health, indicating the importance of protecting mental health through regular physical activity.

The aim of this exemplary ride was to encourage solidarity and empathy with persons who are fighting different mental disorders. A large number of Belgrade citizens – adults and children, joined the ride, which took place in Belgrade on the eve of World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2024. Physical activity, such as walking or riding a bike, does not only contribute to better health, but also helps in reducing stress and anxiety, which is why it is advised to devote 15 to 30 minutes daily to this kind of recreation and relaxation.









Hemofarm Foundation would like to thank all the participants of the bicycle ride, especially our employees who joined us from Vršac and Šabac, said Suzana Đorđević, Director of Hemofarm Foundation. ‘We are especially proud of Bojana and Bojan Čejić, spouses who set off on their bikes from Vršac all the way to Pančevo. They covered the distance between Pančevo and Belgrade by train, in order to be able to join the bicycle ride. They covered impressive 110 km on that day, thus having become an inspiration for many others to take an active care of their health’, pointed out Suzana.





Bojana and Bojan Čejić, who work in the Technical Operations Division in Vršac, say that they read the invitation for the ‘Start Conversation, Change Route’ ride at work and that they immediately agreed to support the event, because ‘it is important to raise the awareness of physical activity, as well as of cyclists as equally valuable participants in traffic.’

‘We decided to set off on our bikes from Vršac to Pančevo, riding through Dubovac, Gaj, and Dolovo and covering 100 km. We arrived in Belgrade from Pančevo by train. The cyclists’ gathering was great, with all those white and orange T-shirts mingling together, having gathered many nations with the same goal: to promote cycling, healthy lifestyle, and mental health. The happening was perfectly well organised, and the safety of all the participants was at a high level. We are proud for having been a part of this event and for having given our modest contribution’, concluded Bojana and Bojan Čejić.

In addition, the bicycle ride was also supported by participation of our colleagues from Šabac, who stress that such initiatives are important for raising awareness of people of the importance of protecting mental health, which is why they regularly attend such events.

‘The ride was relaxing, and getting together was great, with passers-by cheering; this is something that will be remembered. I hope there will be even more participants from Šabac as well as from other Hemofarm units next year’, said Vladan Rakić from the Technical Operations Division in Šabac.



In the manner of best reporters, our colleague, Julija Sekulić, who works at the Technical Operations in Vršac, and who also participated in the bicycle ride, took photos and recorded videos at the event and published them on social networks.

‘We live in an environment where little attention is given to mental health and in which the awareness of the importance of sports activities, mobility, and spending time in the nature is at a very low level. Changing the mind and lifestyle for the better is not an easy process and such actions are very important’, said Julija, adding that this actually is one of the tasks of us who work for a pharmaceutical company – to help people not only alleviate their health problems or cure a disease with the medicines we produce, but also to teach them to live a healthier life, taking mandatory preventive actions in order to be healthier, physically and mentally.’ Julija states that ‘riding her bike through the streets of Belgrade, wearing orange T-shirts in the colour of Hemofarm, was a real pleasure. Her camera captured a positive atmosphere, lively spirit and team desire to be even more mobile and healthier. Lots of laughter, new stories and new people on two wheels was enough to wish for some new routes. We move ourselves, and then we move others, too.’



The ‘Start Conversation, Change Route’ bicycle ride, organised by the Psychosocial Innovation Network (PIN) and the Streets for Cyclists – Critical Mass, with the support of Hemofarm Foundation, followed the route from Pionirski Park, along the streets of Kneza Miloša, Srpskih Vladara, Kralja Milana, Vlajkovićeva, Gospodar Jevremova, Francuska, Džordža Vašingtona, Đure Daničića, Vlajkovićeva, Kosovska, Takovska, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra, Branka Krsmanovića, Mileševska, Cara Nikolaja, Maršala Tolbuhina, Makenzijeva, Trg Slavija, Kralja Milana, Terazije, Kolarčeva, Francuska, Vase Čarapića, ending at the Studentski Trg Square. The participants were accompanied by music from a sound system all the way. Many of the participants had balloons with the following message written on them: ‘Mental Health Movement’.