St. Petersburg 'Children Help Children' tournament raises almost 300,000 rubles

In St. Petersburg, the eleventh annual charity football tournament «Children Help Children» has concluded. The competition involved young football players aged 8–9 from city sports schools and sections.

The organizer was the svet.deti foundation (Svet.Deti Foundation) with the support of the Gazprom Academy of FC Zenit and the Optic Academy of Sports Games. The goal of the tournament is not only sports development but also raising funds for children and adolescents undergoing treatment in oncology clinics in St. Petersburg.

«This tournament is different from all others in that here children help children. Healthy kids came not just to play football, but first and foremost to support children facing oncological diseases. But conversely, children who are currently fighting the disease also help the healthy ones. They instill in them the desire to help, the ability to empathize, and to see those in need nearby. We very much hope that our participants will be able to understand a little better that there are always those nearby who need support. It is important for us to cultivate this feeling in the young generation — the striving to help, the inner need to do good. That is why this tournament is special,» noted Priest Georgy (Yuri Rodenkov), a cleric at the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Primorsky District of St. Petersburg, a trustee of the foundation, and a former professional football player.

In 2025, the «Children Help Children» project took second place in the all-Russian competition of the Russian Football Union (RFU) «Russia – Football Country» in the nomination «Best Project for Children».

Ambassadors of the Russian Football Union were present at the event — well-known football players Alexei Smertin and Alexei Igonin, as well as popular blogger Anatoly Tarasenko («Tolya about Football»).

«I head the Department of Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility of the Russian Football Union, and in the past I played football. Therefore, I know that the football field is an excellent platform that unites absolutely everyone. Including those who need help and those who can help. Football in this regard is beautiful — after all, it»s a team game in which without mutual assistance it«s impossible to achieve results. And this tournament is special because from childhood it forms qualities that later help not only to achieve personal goals but also to benefit others, those who need support. The earlier you realize that a sports position is, in essence, a civic position, the better. After all, when you play guided by the desire to help others, you gain additional strength,» said Alexei Smertin, former captain of the Russian national team.

As part of the tournament, a charity auction was held, with lots provided by Alexei Igonin — former captain of Zenit, winner of the Russian Cup, and chairman of the RFU Committee for Fan Work.

«At this tournament, we learn not only to play football, we learn to be kind, responsive, we learn to be good people. I want to wish the children who are currently undergoing treatment to find reasons for joy and to be happy. After all, a happy childhood is the key to a happy future for any person,» said Alexei Igonin.

A special flair was added to the event by the mothers of the young participants — winners of the beauty contests «Mrs. Primorsky District» and «Bereginya of St. Petersburg» led by organizer Anastasia Tatarnikova. They presented medals and gifts to the athletes.

As a result of the tournament, 290,256 rubles (approximately $2,900 at current rates) were raised. The entire amount will be directed to help 17-year-old Zakhar Mardan from Yashkino village in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia, who is fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Details about his story can be found on the website of the svet.deti foundation.

The organizers are inspired by the success and plan to develop the project further. The svet.deti foundation is confident that football is a force capable of changing lives for the better.

The svet.deti foundation provides comprehensive support to children, adolescents, and young adults up to 21 years old with oncological diseases undergoing treatment in clinics in St. Petersburg. Since 2008, more than 1,600 patients from different regions of Russia and CIS countries have received help.

Since 2019, as part of the «Children Help Children» project, 11 charity tournaments have been held in St. Petersburg, as well as one each in Lovozero village in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, and in Tver. The total amount of funds raised is 2,936,613 rubles (approximately $29,400 at current rates), all directed to help children with oncological diseases.