Ellas hjältar
Become a child’s hero!
Now you can become a hero for a child who is having a hard time. We are super proud of our collaboration with the foundation Ellas hjältar (Ellas heroes). Ellas hjältar’s vision is to give children an easier everyday life with the aids they need, but also to give children good memories that take them through tough times. Together with you, our runners and ambassadors, we will now make sure to realize their dreams. When you register for Helsingborg Marathon, HOKA Helsingborg Half Marathon or HBGM Relay you have the opportunity to make a donation to Ellas hjältar. Not running or missed the opportunity when you registered? No worries! You can also make a donation in our HBGM shop. Every donation to Ellas hjältar will help in our joint project in fulfilling Elliots dream which you can read about below. Together we make dreams come true!
Together we can change Frans life
Frans is a happy and sporty 8-year-old who lives in Malmö with his family. He loves playing soccer, practicing table tennis, playing video games, and going on running sessions with Glädjeknuff, where he gets to experience both speed and the surroundings from the specially designed running stroller. When Frans was 16 months old, he and his family received the news that Frans has Cerebral Palsy. A diagnosis that would change their lives. The Cerebral Palsy, believed to have occurred due to oxygen deprivation during fetal development, has meant that Frans has been in a wheelchair since he was 1.5 years old. The wheelchair has simply been his primary means of mobility, which means that his legs are passive and, therefore, do not have the muscle strength they would have had if he could walk on his own.
– Despite being very active in his daily life, Frans’ legs are usually passive. He can move them and walk a few meters with the help of a walker, but with a Racerunner, Frans could become more active with his legs, thus increasing his muscle strength, blood circulation, and fitness. His entire body would simply benefit from the movements a Racerunner allows!
Let’s get Frans a Racerunner!
Frans and his parents’ dream is for him to have his own Racerunner. Now, together, we are going to raise money for this. A RaceRunner costs 40,000 SEK, and when you register for any of our races during HBGM 2024, you can donate money that will go in full towards Frans RaceRunner. If you are already registered, you can make a donation through our shop. These funds will also go entirely towards Aaron’s RaceRunner.
Once we have successfully collected all the money for Frans, we will start a new project together with Ellas hjältar and raise funds for another child.
Previous fundraisings
In 2023, we raised money for the superhero Aaron – a 6-year-old boy born with the rare condition Joubert syndrome, which involves changes in the cerebellum. This results in significant balance and coordination disorders and low muscle tone. Aaron also has level 3 autism, is non-verbal, and uses a wheelchair. In other words, Aaron has had a tough start in life and had to fight extra hard. But what a fighter he is!
Aaron and his family’s big dream was for Aaron to have his own RaceRunner, which could help him train his leg muscles so that he could eventually have the chance to learn to walk. And thanks to all the fantastic people who donated money to our fundraising with Ellas Hjältar, and an incredible effort by Stephan Wilson who raised money for every meter he managed to lead in the HOKA Helsingborg Half Marathon, Aaron’s dream has now come true!
Aaron’s mom describes the joy they felt when they found out that the fundraising had reached its goal and that the dream would come true.
“We were indescribably happy that Aaron would get his own RaceRunner! I was also so shocked and happy when Stephan Wilson called me to tell me about his contribution to the fundraising! The RaceRunner will arrive just in time for the first snow, but we look forward to spring so Aaron can use it more! A thousand thanks to everyone involved!!”
About Ellas hjältar
Ellas hjältar were started as a non-profit fundraiser for individual families the founder Catja got in touch with via the internet. Today, the Ellas hjältar is a foundation. Everything is transparent, as a donor you should know exactly what the money is used for. The focus is on being personal and building a relationship with the family, listening to their story, answering questions and being a supportive party before, during and after they have had their wish fulfilled. This is what distinguishes Ellas hjältar from many other aid organizations. Those who receive support from the foundation can be families affected by illness, bullying or other trauma. Through Ellas hjältar, they get a wish fulfilled, perhaps a trip, an idol meeting or an activity. Many children with disabilities also end up in the wrong place in our system and do not get the aids they need to live as normal a life as possible – here, too, Ellas hjältar step in. Ellas hjältar raise money for specific causes through grants, events and the like. They set a clear goal for a sum that covers the desire the case is about. As a donor, you can access this information via their pages. If there is money left over when they have helped a child, these, regardless of the amount, go on to future children on Ellas hjältar. This information may be read and approved by all parents before they post a case on the website.
Ellas hjältar step in for children who are having a hard time
Catja and her daughter Ella have always been close and they were both exited when Catja became pregnant with a baby sister. But nothing went as planned. The birth was dramatic, Catja almost lost her life and the injuries she received were permanent. The idea for Ellas hjältar was born when they saw a TV show about children who were having a hard time. Ella were enchanted. – I thought that maybe we could heal, by helping others, says Catja, founder of Ellas hjältar. Ellas hjältar were founded in 2016 by Catja Karlberg when she suffered a serious childbirth accident that completely changed her life. Even today, she lives with severe pain after the complications and with an ostomy bag. Catja was cared for at home for a long time, during this time her first daughter Ella was very scared, she also created a fear of being by Catja’s side when she no longer recognized her mother. To win back her daughter, Catja chose to raise money and to arrange for Ella to meet another child who also where going to a hard time. Already after the first meeting, Ella began to approach Catja again. The family therefore continued to help more children and this is where Ellas hjältar were born. Children and families may have suffered from illness, bullying or other trauma. Through Ellas hjältar, they get a wish fulfilled. Maybe it’s a trip, a meeting with an idol or an activity. Many children with disabilities also end up in the wrong place in society’s system and do not get the aids they need to live a normal life – here too we are making a difference. Donating money is an easy way for a company to do something good for someone else. – I often hear from our donors that they feel part of a family – Ellas hjältar. Contributing to the foundation is not only good for the company’s brand, but also provides a wonderful community. It feels good in the heart to give, says Catja.