This December, the Ana Rukavina Foundation is organizing a commendable action “I want life” whose main goal is to raise funds for further expansion of the Croatian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and professional development of young doctors in hematology and other related specializations. By calling 060 9000, citizens will be able to donate HRK 5.00 (plus VAT) throughout December to support this noble action. Unfortunately, the unfavorable epidemiological situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic again prevented the holding of a traditional humanitarian concert on Ban Josip Jelačić Square. The Ana Rukavina Foundation and partner Nova TV are preparing a holiday program that will be broadcast on December 18 on the Nova TV program and Nova TV online platforms.
“Fifteen years ago, the first concert ‘I want life’ was held on Ban Josip Jelačić Square. Fifteen years ago, Ana and a few friends and enthusiasts, planned a concert from the hospital room that was supposed to give hope for life to her and everyone who found themselves in a similar situation. Ana, unfortunately, did not live to see the concert, she left us that sad Sunday morning in November, but we all continued her vision together. Croatia was united and the Foundation continued Ana’s mission. Although we are not on the Ban Jelačić Square this year either, together with our partner Novi TV, this year we want to give people hope in life and hope that this difficult period will soon be behind us. Thank you dear people for being with us all these years and with those who need our help “, said on the occasion of the beginning of the action, Mrs. Marija Rukavina, director of the Ana Rukavina Foundation.
This year’s concert I Want Life will take place on Saturday, December 18, starting at 8.15 pm, with the most beautiful performances by Croatian pop stars Severina, Nina Badrić, Petar Grašo, Psihomodo Pop, and Sanja, Marinko and Zec, which will further warm the hearts of viewers in this Christmas time of love, joy, and giving.
Citizens can give their contribution today by calling the charity number 060 9000 provided by Hrvatski Telekom. The price of the call is HRK 5.00 (plus VAT), and calls are possible throughout December.
Also, this year all citizens will be able to make payments through the KEKS Pay application by Erste Bank, which enables fast, easy, and secure sending of payments free of charge. The KEKS Pay application can be downloaded and used free of charge by all citizens, regardless of which bank they have an account with.
By scanning the QR code (at the bottom of the text) through the KEKS Pay application, you can donate quickly and easily, you only need to enter the desired amount to be donated.
You can also donate through the KEKS Pay application by clicking on this link.
The persistent work and commitment of the Foundation enabled the expansion of the Croatian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and the establishment of the Public Cord Blood Bank Ana Rukavina within University Hospital Centre Zagreb, which has given 145 people hope for saving lives. Thanks to the hard and dedicated work of the Foundation and the help of citizens, more than 61,500 potential donors of hematopoietic stem cells have been registered in the Croatian Registry since the beginning of the Ana Rukavina Foundation and more than 440 actions have been organized throughout the Republic of Croatia. According to the 2014 World Marrow Donor Association, Croatia ranks Croatia 11th in terms of the number of potential donors per 10,000 inhabitants and 8th in the world in terms of the number of donated umbilical cord blood per 10,000 inhabitants.
From the beginning of 2021 until today, the Ana Rukavina Foundation has donated funds to Croatian health care for equipment and projects in the amount of HRK 1,317,977.89:
– to University Hospital Centre Zagreb 500 tests for HLA typing in the amount of HRK 134,531.25 for typing the collected samples as soon as possible.
– for equipping one sterile unit at the Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation of the University Hospital Centre Zagreb in the amount of one million kunas. The project envisages the construction and equipping of six sterile units for the youngest patients in which small patients after transplantation would be treated, as well as those with immunodeficiency.
– to Vrbina Sisak Children’s Home, which was damaged in the earthquake; a donation for the interior design of the kitchen and auxiliary rooms and the same equipment with associated devices in the amount of HRK 183,446.64 will enable users to function normally after almost a year since the earthquake. The beneficiaries of the home are children aged five to 17 without parental care.
As a pledge for the future, the Foundation provided professional training to young doctors and so far seven doctors from the Republic of Croatia have had the opportunity to develop in the world’s best clinics in hematology and pediatrics to be able to help patients in their homeland.
By participating in this action, each of us can help the work of this humanitarian foundation and provide support to the neediest. The circumstances may be different, but the goal remains the same – to provide hope for saving lives.