Swiss ultramarathon runner Frédéric Splendore plans to complete the Beyond Borders charity run—a journey of approximately 4,200 kilometers that he began in Monaco on July 24—in Ukraine on September 21, International Day of Peace.
As the athlete told the Open4Business editorial team, he expects to arrive in Lviv early in the morning on September 21, completing the walking portion of his journey across Europe. After that, Splendore and his support team plan to travel by camper van to Kyiv and visit Maidan Nezalezhnosti in the afternoon. Their departure from Ukraine is scheduled for September 22.
The main goal of the Beyond Borders project—known as “Courir pour Unir” (“Run to Unite”) in its French-language version—goes beyond mere athletic achievement. Splendor is using the run to draw attention to the consequences of the war in Ukraine and to raise funds to help Ukrainians affected by the conflict.
“This project isn’t just about sports or a record. It’s about using endurance to raise awareness, collect funds, and convey a universal message of peace and solidarity all the way to Ukraine,” said Splendor.
In total, the route spans approximately 4,200 km and passes through 13 European countries. On some days, the athlete covers 70–100 km. The project’s official website confirms that the goal of the journey is to arrive in Ukraine on September 21—International Day of Peace.
The first and most challenging stage of the route followed the Via Alpina through the Alps. Splendor covered about 2,000 km of the Alpine route and set a new men’s record for completing the route with team support—23 days, 11 hours, and 42 minutes. The result was recorded on August 16.
After completing the Alpine section, the athlete continued on for another approximately 2,200 km through Central and Eastern Europe toward Ukraine.
“When things got tough, I reminded myself that everything I’m going through is temporary and voluntary, whereas millions of Ukrainians have had no choice for many years and live with the consequences of war every day,” the athlete noted.
The charitable component of the project is being carried out through the Swiss association Au-delà de l’Effort. The funds raised are being directed to the Chaîne du Bonheur (Swiss Solidarity) fund to support Ukrainians affected by the war. The money is planned to be used, in particular, to rebuild destroyed buildings, assist internally displaced persons, and ensure access to education and medical care. According to the project, at least 95% of the funds raised will go directly to the fund for aid to Ukraine.
The campaign’s goal is to raise approximately EUR 140,000.
Frederick Splendor, 33, previously worked as a professional firefighter and a chemistry lab technician. He is the 2023 Swiss champion in the 100-km race and the 2024 national runner-up. His personal best in the marathon is approximately 2 hours and 22 minutes. In 2018, the athlete ran approximately 4,300 km on his own along the Pacific Crest Trail in the United States.
According to Splendor, arriving in Ukraine on International Day of Peace is meant to be a symbolic conclusion to his nearly two-month-long journey.
“I want to use running as a way to mobilize people, to remind Europeans that we must not turn a blind eye, and to show solidarity with a population that has been living with war for many years,” he noted.
Photo: ibelieveinyou.ch, Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary
