Cieszyn

"We're a new hospice so we need literally everything...but mostly support, the knowledge that we are not alone and that what we do is important"

This is a new hospice, called "Open Doors" and its ten volunteers visit people in their homes to provide essential care.  The dedicated hospice team is also working hard to convert an old building into a warm and welcoming residential home for patients.

In 2012 Cycle Poland visited Dominika, an incredibly brave 12 year old who is using one of the beds provided by the Foundation. She told us that she loves the bed, and that she hopes to go back to school next year. Unfortunately that day she wasn't well enough to go to her window to see all our cyclists waiting outside, so they sang her a song instead! A few months later we got the fantastic news that Dominka has beaten cancer and will be returning to school.

"The most important thing in the last moments of life is to have someone close next to you. Money and daily worries are no longer important. The things that count are strawberries, whose scent you want to smell one last time, the kiss of someone close and the visit of a grandson from the other end of Poland" says Wioletta Staniek, the nurse who founded the hospice.

To date the Alina Foundation has donated the following equipment:

• in 2010, a suction unit for draining lungs after surgery;
• in 2011, three beds;
• in 2012, two beds and an oxygen concentrator. The Foundation also covered the costs of palliative care training for three members of the hospice team;
• in 2013, a hospital bed;
• in 2016, two oxygen concentrators.

"I wanted to really sincerely thank you for the suction unit which arrived and is fantastic. It works and is super and there aren't the words to thank you"

"We received the bed. It is amazing, you don't even know how much this means. It is not much but thank you very much."

Take a look at the hospice website: hospicjumotwartedrzwi.com