As the September afternoon sun illuminated the streets of Belgrade, the scents of autumn mingled with the sound of spinning pedals, whistles, and music playing in the background.

Hundreds of cyclists, including our employees from Belgrade, Vršac, and Šabac, gathered this past weekend for a bike ride as part of the Fifth Mental Health Festival, with a purpose that went far beyond the kilometers traveled: to remind everyone of the importance of mental health and to highlight that mental health challenges are not a sign of weakness, but a medical condition deserving our attention, understanding, and support.



The Route 164 of Critical Mass led us past leading institutions and organizations dedicated to mental health. Every turn of the pedals symbolized support, strength, and unity, demonstrating once again that physical and mental health are inseparably connected, and that cycling serves as a reminder that physical activity contributes to mental well-being and connects people.

For Bojana Čejić, Senior Technician, To-Quality-VŠ-QC-Chem Lab, Finished Product Testing Team, the ride was also a personal challenge: “Bojan and I joyfully accepted our Foundation’s invitation to join the bike ride as part of the Mental Health Festival. For me, it was a personal challenge – I cycled from Vršac, through Kovin to Pančevo, covering 100 km, and then my husband and I headed to the meeting point. Events like these are incredibly important because they don’t just promote a healthy lifestyle – cycling – they also raise awareness of how physical activity supports mental health.”



Dragana Živković, Senior Culture & People Business Partner, shared: “The 10 km ride was a challenge for me because I don’t cycle regularly. Before the start, I had already cycled 4.5 km from home to the starting point, knowing I had the same distance to return. Most sections were straightforward, but when I saw the incline from Dimitrija Tucovića to Ruzvelt Street, I was sure I wouldn’t make it. Then I heard Alena voice behind me: ‘Come on, Gago, together – you’ll see you can do it.’ That’s when I realized how valuable support is – it lifts you up when you feel you have no strength and shows that together, limits cease to exist.”



Alena Pajić, Project Manager at Hemofarm Foundation and founder of our cycling section, added: “Cycling is a simple way to take care of ourselves and reminds us of the importance of balance – both on the bike and in life. On two wheels, stress melts away, and if you ride with dear friends, the joy is even greater.”


Svetlana Đorđević, Quality Control Specialist: "A panoramic ride through the heart of Belgrade in the company of passionate cyclists is a moment I would never miss. Enjoying the little things with great people, who feel like family – that’s priceless."

The Fifth Mental Health Festival was marked by positive energy and scenes of cyclists of all generations – from solo riders and groups to parents with children and their four-legged companions. As we rode through the streets from Slavija, across Terazije, the Jevremovac Botanical Garden, Pionir Hall, and Bogoslovija back to the Vuk Monument, drivers honked their horns in symbolic support, and people waved from terraces and streets with approving smiles.

As evening replaced day, the 10-kilometer ride for mental health was summed up by Suzana Đorđević, Director of the Foundation: “Good mental health is the foundation of overall well-being. It is not solely an individual responsibility but a collective one. It doesn’t begin with grand solutions – it starts with us, our presence, and our willingness to take care of ourselves while listening to the needs of others. By supporting each other and engaging our bodies and minds, we build a society where no one is left alone or forgotten.”