The campaign “I want life!” is a story which started with Ana’s letter in which she said that all of her wishes fit into three little words.
After the successful auction of photographs taken by Ana’s colleagues, Ana and her three friends were in excellent moods. The whole thing had gone so well that they started joking about organizing a concert next, since they were obviously on a roll. Ana already knew that she would not need the money, as she had found alternative ways to finance her treatment, but she was ready to put all of her effort into campaigning to raise the full amount of money to fulfill her dream: money for all the other people who are fighting hematological diseases. “If 2 million is enough just for me and we need just a little more for everyone else, let’s go ahead and raise it all!” she said. And just like that, what was going to be a small concert in one of Zagreb’s clubs turned into a big humanitarian concert on Ban Jelačić Square, accompanied by numerous blood drives and citizens joining the Croatian Bone Marrow Donors Registry.
The concert was organized and produced at a cost of “0 kuna”, as one of our colleagues put it. In other words, no expense was incurred thanks to the kindness of the many generous people who donated their services, products and time.
Initial "I want life!" campaign lasted for a total of 142 days (08.11.2006-28.03.2007).
During the campaign, the number of names added to the Croatian Bone Marrow Donors Registry increased from 150 to 20,000. There were more than 51 blood drives held in over 30 Croatian towns to take samples for tissue typing. The "I want life!" campaign raised in excess of 2,700,000 Kuna.
In Ana's honor each year in December Ana Rukavina Foundation is organizing a big charity concert "I want life" at Zagreb's main square. By organizing this concert we want to thank everyone who in any way contributed to the work of the Foundation and to commemorate Anna's great heritage.
