Creativity, education, and prevention in a single competition: "How Would You Celebrate Health Day – Any Ideas?"
An awards ceremony for the winners of the regional stage of the All-Russian children's drawing competition "How Would You Celebrate Health Day – Any Ideas?" was held in Yaroslavl. The competition was dedicated to osteoporosis prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion in the framework of World Osteoporosis Day-2025.
The competition was initiated by the All-Russian Patient Society "Osteorus," which hosts it at the Russian Osteoporosis Association (RAOP) osteoporosis centers across the country.
In Yaroslavl, the event is being held jointly with the "Union of Women of the Yaroslavl Region."
Since 2017, the “Osteorus” Patient Society has been running a Children's Educational School on Osteoporosis Prevention. Russia became the first country in the world to hold an annual all-Russian children's drawing competition on bone health prevention. This idea was later spread under the auspices of the International Osteoporosis Foundation(IOF) which is the initiator of the annual observance of World Osteoporosis Day on October 20th. The campaign has a new motto every year. In 2025 it is "Stop the Neglect of Bone Health – It's Unacceptable!" The drawing competition has also a new theme every year.
The drawings of the competition winners are used to create a calendar with prevention recommendations from RAOP specialists, which has become one of the highlights of the annual Russian WOD campaign. The calendars are posted online in electronic format, and the printed version becomes a memorable gift from “Osteorus”.
Each year, the competition has a new name. In 2025, for the first time, an essay contest, "My Health Day 2025," was held alongside with the drawing competition. The winners of both competitions were awarded at a ceremony.
The drawing exhibition and the ceremony took place at the Yaroslavl Palace of Pioneers. Lidiya Popova, director of the Palace of Pioneers, generously provided the space for the exhibition and the ceremony, and children from various clubs congratulated the participants in their own ways. They prepared five festive numbers (dances, songs and a small orchestra composition), performed at a high creative level.
Gifts for the children were provided by the Yaroslavl Printing Plant (books) and the “Luch” Plant (paint and coloured pencils sets and albums for drawing).
A representative of Mikhail Krupin, Children's Rights Commissioner for the Yaroslavl Region, Sergei Semyonov, presented letters of gratitude to the active participants of the event as well as a certificate of gratitude to Professor Olga Ershova, head of “Osteorus”, for her initiative to mark WOD with the Children’s
Drawing contest. This year it took place for the 13th time.
The department of Culture of the Yaroslavl Mayor’s office recognized several teachers who have been mentoring the children in the drawing competition for many years.
The awards ceremony had a warm and vibrant atmosphere, creating a family-like holiday. Many children came with their parents; they found their own works at the exhibition and were delighted to be able to participate in such an unusual competition that combined creativity, prevention, and education. This concept helps them learn the basics of proper nutrition from childhood to maintain strong bones throughout their lives. This promotes a healthy lifestyle in the future and is the foundation for active longevity.
The event was made possible thanks to sponsors and volunteers – teachers, community activists, and caring individuals who are involved in raising children both professionally and by passion. “Osteorus” Patient Society expresses a huge “thank you” to everyone for participating: together, we are on the side of kindness and osteoporosis prevention!
We also express our sincere gratitude to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) for providing us with excellent resources to raise awareness of the Russian population of all ages about osteoporosis prevention and for the appreciation of our efforts to “Stop the Neglect of Bone Health”.
“Osteorus” will continue to develop the Children's Educational School for Osteoporosis Prevention and seek new ways to engage with the community, government, and businesses to raise awareness of bone disease, the need for its prevention and early detection.
Victoria Sotskova, Galina Evstifeeva
