Česky
They resemble colourful chessboards, each of them is unique and besides warming up, they will mainly help small patients from the Department of Long-Term and Intensive Nursing Care for Children (DIOP) at the Hořovice Hospital. These are the blankets handmade by volunteers and enthusiasts with their hearts in the right place as part of the charity project DEKAfor Hořovice Hospital. "From the sale of the blankets that we crochet, knit or sew together, we raise a sum of money to support the Hořovice DIOP and the families of the children who are hospitalized there," explains Gabriela Šejbová from the non-profit Babíkov association, which tries to integrate the elderly back into life by, for example, knitting octopuses for babies born earlier in the Hořovice maternity hospital.
Every square counts
Anyone can take part in the DEKAfor Hořovice Hospital project - children, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, friends - just anyone, regardless of age. Just crochet or knit 30 x 30 centimetres squares of wool or make a whole blanket of 5 x 6 squares. "Every square counts. We leave the colour and pattern up to you. Choose a nice material to make a blanket for yourself, so that it is soft to the touch," adds Gabriela Šejbová.
Finished squares or whole blankets can be sent to the Babíkov association (contact details here: https://www.babikov.cz/dekapro/). If the creators write their name and where they are from, they will appear on the list of those who have helped with the charity project.
Those who cannot crochet or knit can donate wool, hooks and needles. Alternatively, make a financial donation to the association's bank account at Fiobanka, number 2101741739/2010, or help coordinate the project, which will culminate in a quilt sale and auction in the spring of 2025.
The funds raised will be used to further improve care for seriously ill children and their families. "Whether it's funding hippotherapy and canister therapy, which cannot be covered by public health insurance. Or the training of staff in aromatherapy and the purchase of snoezelen therapy aids for patients with impaired senses," says the head of the children's ward and DIOP, MUDr. Mahulena Exnerová.
The Department of Long-term and Intensive Nursing Care (DIOP) has been operating at the Hořovice Hospital since September 2018. Chronically ill children with serious life-limiting illnesses are hospitalized there. Within the Czech Republic, the Hořovice DIOP is a unique and very specific workplace. It provides patients with care not only for physical health symptoms, but also psychological, social and spiritual care.
