Croatian tennis stars Donna Vekić and Borna Ćorić united in unselfish goal

by croatiaweek
May 11, 2021
in Sport

Donna Vekić and Borna Ćorić (Photo: Private album)

Famous Croatian tennis players Donna Vekić and Borna Ćorić, together with the founders of award-winning Croatian gin brand Old Pilot’s Gin, have donated funds for the renovation of the Special Hospital for Chronic Diseases of Children – Gornja Bistra.

The devastating earthquake, which hit Petrinja and surrounding areas late last year, left a lasting mark on numerous buildings in nearby towns.

Among them is the Special Hospital for Chronic Diseases of Children – Gornja Bistra. Namely, part of the hospital suffered significant damage in the earthquake and, after being examined by staticians, was marked as temporarily unusable, after which half of the young patients were transferred to the Naftalan Special Hospital in Ivanić Grad.

Bistra Hospital (Photo: Bistra Hospital)

The remaining patients, those with more severe illnesses and those connected to oxygen, remained in Bistra, in parts of the hospital that were not too damaged, but at the end of February about 40 relocated children returned to Bistra Hospital, which they saw as their home sees them as his home, after the hospital was secured with support pillars and scaffolding.

The Special Hospital for Chronic Diseases of Children – Gornja Bistra is the only one in Croatia that deals with the most serious and incurable diseases, and is located in the Oršić castle from the 18th century and currently has 103 patients.

(Photo: Bistra Hospital)

In order for the hospital to be completely renovated and become a comfortable place for children, further investments and donations are needed.

The founders of the Old Pilot’s Gin brand recently contributed to this, together with their brand ambassadors, celebrated Croatian tennis players Donna Vekić and Borna Ćorić. Together, they raised funds with which the hospital will purchase equipment to equip the rooms of young patients, which will significantly increase the standard of care and nursing.

(Photo: Bistra Hospital)

“I think it is important to raise awareness among people about institutions in our country that have such a noble, but at the same time extremely difficult job. They need all the help they can get. Sometimes we forget how privileged we are to be in a position to play sports and compete around the world,” said Donna Vekić, while Borna Ćorić pointed out the following: “I really like interacting with children because they are honest, well-meaning, cheerful and optimistic human beings. I think we need to be aware of the fact that there are a large number of children who need help and attention. Bistra Hospital is a place where all our personal problems become irrelevant and I hope that they will get the help they deserve.”

The founders of the Old Pilot’s Gin brand are proud of this collaboration with the great young tennis players: “As entrepreneurs, and above all as parents, aware of the situation in Bistra Hospital and its young patients, we felt the need to help and make life easier to the children who are there. Our business collaboration with Donna and Borna has resulted in all the funds invested in the collaboration being donated with the hope of a better tomorrow for the brave little ones and their caregivers. We want to help, and perhaps in this way motivate other people who are able to do the same or similar thing. We are happy and proud to cooperate with such great sports names, Donna Vekić and Borna Ćorić. Not only because they have placed their trust in our brand, but also because our cooperation began with a humanitarian action that directly helps the most vulnerable group in our society, children with special needs. In challenging times of earthquakes, pandemics and economic insecurity, it is necessary to look around, change priorities and help those who need it most today.”

Old Pilot’s Gin founders Hrvoje Busic and Tomislav Anadolac (Photo: Dean Žulić)

The director of Bistra Hospital, Renato Mittermayer, thanked the donors from the bottom of his heart: “I thank the initiators of this noble action, because equipping patient rooms with hospital beds, which are adapted to the needs of our little patients, significantly raises the standard of care. Namely, these are beds that can be adjusted and adjusted with electric motors, so that small patients can be placed in an optimal position. Our patients lie in their beds all the time, so we have to pay special attention so as not to get wounds from prolonged lying down. With these medical beds, it will be easier for us to maintain the sensitive skin of our patients, and provide them with the most comfortable position of their bodies and thus safely improve the quality of health care and make their stay in our hospital easier.”