For the third year in a row, the CYBERLAB team joined the KTJ Club Business Challenge. A month-long initiative where companies across Serbia convert their employees' kilometers into donations for children in need. This May, our team ran 1,237 kilometers and raised 100.000 RSD to support the ongoing medical treatment of a little girl named Neda Ranđelović. Here's what that month actually looked like from the inside.

Neda was born after a healthy, regularly monitored pregnancy. However, complications during delivery later resulted in a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

When we heard about Neda’s story, we were deeply moved by her strength and the dedication of her family. During the first year of the challenge, we decided to direct our fundraising efforts toward helping Neda. By the end of that month, we had built a genuine connection with her and her family, who, in turn, supported and cheered us on throughout the entire challenge. Seeing how much the treatment had helped her progress made us proud to have played even a small part in her recovery.

Earlier this year, when we heard that Neda needed a new cycle of therapy, the answer was simple: we wanted to help again.

The KTJ Club Business Challenge founded in April 2024, a simple idea by KTJ Club: turn everyday kilometers into meaningful support for children in need. From the start, six companies joined the initiative, and CYBERLAB was among them. Back then, 190 colleagues took part. This year, that number grew to 26 companies with more than 1,000 participants.

The concept was designed from the ground up for everyday runners, not just seasoned athletes. Teams of up to 25 colleagues form a running squad; companies could register more than one, and convert their kilometers into donations for a child or children's institution of their choice. Every kilometer counts, every step carries a meaning beyond the finish line.

On paper, the challenge was simple: run, log kilometers on Strava, repeat. In practice, it quietly rewires how a team operates for an entire month. For those joining the challenge for the first time, the motivation came naturally from the team itself. There was always someone in the group chat sending an invite for a run, and when you run with others, you inevitably push past what you thought you could do. A kilometer or two more than planned, a limit quietly crossed.

The company played its part too by providing our runners with proteins and healthy food throughout May, giving the whole initiative an extra push.

And then there was Bojan Čakar, our colleague and unofficial captain, who kept the team's energy up throughout the month with protein pancakes and shakes. By the end of May, that same energy carried a part of the team all the way to Fruška Trail, 15 kilometers through Fruška Gora, a serious challenge by any standard, and proof that what started as a charity run had become something the team genuinely wanted to push further.

Without overthinking it, that's how 1,237 kilometers happened logged across two countries, with teammates running in Novi Sad, Belgrade, Bijeljina, and Banja Luka.

By the end of May, we were all in better shape than when we started, and not just physically. We pushed past our own limits, ran through rain without thinking twice, and finished the challenge as a tighter, closer team.

As individuals, we grew. As a collective, we bonded. And as part of a wider community, we made a contribution that we hope made a difference. When it comes to helping others, no gesture is too small. Every kilometer, every donation, every share matters. If you'd like to add your voice to this story and support Neda's ongoing treatment, you can do so right now by sending an SMS with the text 239 to 3800.

As for us, we had a great time, and this is far from the only initiative we're part of. If you'd like a peek into our team culture and what we're up to, we'd love to have you follow along. Stay connected with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.