Planet of fulfilled dreams
PLN 265,900 was the amount raised during the 21st edition of the ‘Urtica for Children’ event held on Thursday evening (November 22nd 2018). The event, featuring an auction of art works made by children suffering from cancer, attracted to the ‘Planet of Dreams’ more than 300 figures from the world of culture and business. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to support 18 children’s oncology and haematology wards in Poland. Over the past 21 years, its organiser, i.e. the Urtica for Children Foundation of Wrocław, has managed to raise almost PLN 3m.
This time the participants were invited to the #Planet of Dreams conjured up at the Topacz Castle near Wrocław, which in recent months has become the main theme of initiatives taken by the Urtica for Children Foundation. A huge spaceship, extraterrestrial set design and the event staff, who personated the spaceship’s crew, were first to catch the eye. We witnessed intergalactic connections, but there were also some stellar appearances, including the popular actor Piotr Cyrwus, and Mirosław Hermaszewski, the first and only Pole to have ever flown into outer space, who talked about one of the works entitled ‘Dreams of the Little Prince’.
The programme included a large auction, conducted by steward Paweł Krupski, during which 35 paintings were auctioned for as much as PLN 206,900, and a small auction with 85 ‘otherworldly’ works, as the organisers like to call them. The amount raised by the small auction was PLN 59,000. To view the entire catalogue of works, visit: https://www.urticadzieciom.pl/#n_388-album-prac--urtica-dzieciom-2018. The works of the children (the youngest one aged four) expressed their emotions, longings and, of course, dreams – such as dancing flamingos, autumn orchards, a trip to the Maldives or a view of the sky during carefree lying on grass. All the works were created in the ‘Sunny Gallery’ art workshops held at children’s hospital wards.
While the prices started from several hundred złotys, the most expensive work was the ‘Love in Paris’ painting by 19-year-old Paweł from School Complex No. 33 for chronically ill children and adolescents at Dr. A. Jurasz University Hospital No. 1 in Bydgoszcz, sold for an impressive sum of PLN 22,000. Music journalist Artur Orzech encouraged buyers to bid for the colourful work entitled ‘Crazy Cow’, which was sold for only a little less, i.e. PLN 20,000. At the moment we can confirm that we have already raised PLN 265,900. The amount will go up once the online auction, which started on November 26th, is closed. The auction is addressed to all those who are not indifferent to the fate of children struggling with cancer. All those who are interested can place their bids on works included in the catalogue available at www.urticadzieciom.pl, thus supporting the mission pursued by the Urtica for Children Foundation.
The real surprise was the song entitled ‘Colours of Dreams’, performed by Nicole Kulesza, participant of the 9th edition of The Voice of Poland, whose singing, particularly the melodious refrain, moved many in the audience: “Let us be filled with colours, let every dream come true. Let the evenings never end, let the blissful day last. Let there always be summer, let nothing worry us anymore, let us give away every moment to be happy!”
‘The inspiration behind the song was the story of 12-year-old Anastazja Kiljańska, apatient of the ‘Cape of Hope’ oncology hospital, diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia, whose wish is to become a singer. Her dream delighted us and found its way to our hearts, so we decided to do our best to help it come true,’ explains Katarzyna Cabaj, member of the Urtica for Children Foundation Management Board.
Imagine the guests’ surprise when it turned out that Anastazja was among the audience! The lyrics were co-authored by children suffering from cancer, participants of this year’s rehabilitation camps organised by the Urtica for Children Foundation. These children, who fight against cancer every day, wrote about lying on a hammock, travelling by car (which is impossible for many of them), flying in a hot air balloon, or the hope that helps them live.
Another special guest invited to the evening was ‘DZIUBEK BAND’, Poland’s first expressive combo of wind instruments with a touch of the electric guitar, bass guitar, piano and a drum kit, conducted by Mariusz Dziubek. The band brilliantly performed well-known songs such as Ben E. King’s ‘Stand By Me’, Tina Turner’s ‘Simply The Best’ and Pharrell Williams’s ‘Happy’. The concert ended on a poetic note with ‘I’ve been waiting for you all my life’ by Mieczysław Szcześniak.
The honorary patrons of the event were: Paweł Hreniak, Governor of the Wrocław Province, Cezary Przybylski, Marshal of the Wrocław Province, Rafał Dutkiewicz, Mayor of Wrocław, and Marek Michalak, the Ombudsman for Children.
The Urtica for Children Foundation was established in April 2017, but as an initiative of Urtica Sp. z o.o., Poland’s largest distributor of pharmaceuticals to hospitals, its presence dates back to 1997. The Foundation’s mission is to support children and young people diagnosed with cancer as well as their families. It focuses on health support, education and charity. At present, its beneficiaries include 18 hospitals.
The initiative’s ambassadors include: Anna Dymna, Prof. Alicja Chybicka, Prof. Jan Miodek and Prof. Jerzy Stuhr. To learn more, visit www.urticadzieciom.pl and
https://www.facebook.com/urtica.dzieciom/
Media enquiries:
Katarzyna Cabaj, Member of the Urtica for Children Foundation Management Board
Phone: (+48 71) 782 66 51
Source: Press release of Urtica for Children Foundation
