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NATO Days help raise money for handicapped athletes
NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days event traditionally includes also various charity projects. One of them is the ČEZ Foundation's “Orange Bike”, whose wheels were turning at the airport for the fifth consecutive year and enabled the visitors to support handicapped athletes.
“Everybody can turn the exercise bike's wheels, there is no top training needed,” says Daniel Novák from the ČEZ Foundation. People of all age groups could then lend a leg to either “Good place for life” or “Garrigue” - civic associations that aimed to secure sport wheelchairs for its members. All that was required was to pedal on one of the “Orange Bikes” for one minute and the distance covered was immediately recalculated into money. The project also helps raise public awareness on endowed organizations and presents how they support people with disabilities or other disadvantages.
In the end, those participating helped raise 101 289 CZK for the Olomouc-based Good place for life organization whose members help, in their free time and for free, the socially disadvantaged in the city of Olomouc. A special mechanical wheel chair will be purchased for the 27-year old David Jemelka, former passionate marathon runner, who suffers from serious disease and dreams of representing the Olomouc Athletic Club.
The Garrigue, a non-profit organisation from Ostrava-Hrabůvka helping handicapped sportsmen and organising self-developing and free-time activities, has received 99 772 CZK. The money will be used to purchase a special wheelchair for the 43-year old Zdeněk Jedlička from Ostrava, who was left paralysed after a jump into water, but keeps practising many sports.
The ČEZ Foundation was founded by the ČEZ company in 2002. It aims at supporting activities for children and youth, in social and cultural spheres, sport, education, infrastructure and protection of environment. By amount of money granted, it ranks among the top Czech foundations. The Foundation's programmes include Orange Playgrounds, Orange Lab, Orange Stairs, Orange Bike and Support for Regions. More at www.nadacecez.cz.
The General Partner of NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days is the company
