The 2nd Run for the Heart of Brigand Szczyrek took place in Szczyrk on July 7, 2013 – a sports and recreation charity event, organized by the World Championship of Polonia “Poland – Austria” Association, the Brigand Szczyrek Association, the City of Szczyrk with the support of the Prof. Zbigniew Religa Foundation for Cardiac Surgery Development in Zabrze, and Radio Zet.
On Sunday afternoon, crowds gathered at St. Jacob’s Square to support the Foundation and a young citizen of Szczyrk – Kuba Kurowski. Kuba was born with severe hypoxia, and as a result he needs specialized and costly rehabilitation. He is a great kid willing to exercise and that motivates everyone else to make every effort to help him.
In total, over 1,000 participants registered in the organization’s office, open from 10 am, but nearly 1,400 people, who want to help ill children, finished the route. The number of spectators and participants altogether was around 1,700 people.
The race began at 2 pm and lasted four hours! Special guest was Prof. Jerzy Buzek, who along with the Mayor of Town Wojciech Bydliński, Parson Andrzej Loranc, Councillor Danuta Kubaszek and Piotr Pogon – sports and charity animator for disabled people, formally opened the event.
The official part of the proceedings was led by: Sabina Bugaj, the head of Public Centre of Culture, Promotion and Information, Andrzej Kempa, the Chairman of Run for the Heart of Brigand Szczyrek Organizational Committee. Sandra Kulka, Agnieszka Szota, Jacek Kufel, Piotr Więzik, Jakub Gołdyn, Mateusz Kurowski and Tomasz Fajfer took care of the registration and assistance during the event.
Anyone could participate – regardless of age, physical condition or money. The route could be travelled in different ways – running, walking, cycling, skating or skateboarding. We are pleased to inform you that, just as last year, the event was attended by handicapped people. Not only individuals participated at the start of the run, but also a number of groups representing among others:
- Town Council in Szczyrk
- Fellowship of Szczyrk Fans
- St. Jacob’s Brotherhood
- Youth for Szczyrk
- Beauty Centre “Catherine”
- “Miracle Med” Aesthetic Medicine Centre
- Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue (GOPR)
- Search and Rescue Dog Subcommittee
- SAIDA Dance Academy from Bielsko-Biała
- Computer scientists from Mechanical Engineering College
- Jujitsu Katana Team Club from Szczytno
- Wards of Welfare House in Wilkowice
- and athletes of Polish Diaspora in Austria
Of all the participants Mr. Filip Konieczny collected the largest number of hearts. While riding a bike, he travelled the marked route 92 times. The youngest participant was a less-than-two-months old Filip, born on May 17, 2013, while the oldest contestants, among both women and men, completed 83 years this year.
Together, we have won 12,312 hearts of Brigand Szczyrek. In total, the runners have travelled 8,499 km, while cyclists and people on roller-skates, skateboards and scooters drove 6,274 km! Generally, the result is impressive – 14,773 km!
During the event, nearly 1,000 servings of pea-soup was sold and a similar number of bottles of mineral water. Additionally, 369 souvenir packages were sold, containing leash and pen, food voucher, a drink, a certificate of participation and a regional gadget. The purchase of the package was optional, money raised from the sale was intended for work on the construction of an artificial heart for children, led by the Foundation for Cardiac Surgery Development and the rehabilitation of little Kuba. The organizers of the event had ordered 300 T-shirts and 400 sports “neck-warmers”, dedicated to Brigand Szczyrek. 20 tins of homemade cakes were baked and they were divided into a total of 700 pieces – the baked goods disappeared from the table in a split second! We also received 100 copies of 3D colouring books.
We would like to thank our Sponsors, Partners, and everyone who contributed to the organization of 2nd Run for the Heart of the Brigand Szczyrek.
This year we were supported by the following media:
- TVP Polonia
- TVP INFO
- TVS
- TVN 24
- TV Familijna
- Radio Zet
- Radio Piekary
- Polonia Sport
- Link to Poland
This year, we were accompanied by:
- HI-TEC
- Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue
- AXA Branch Bielsko-Biala II, St. Cieszyńska 132
- Community of Upper Silesia
- Tax Control
- The Parish of St. Jacob in Szczyrk
- Community of Retired People, Pensioners and Handicapped people, Group No. 15 in Szczyrk
- COS-OPO Szczyrk
- Bielsko County
- PBC LLC from Katowice
- Citroen and campaign Citroen ZET Tour
- Silveretta and Wedding rooms Romeo&Juliet in Szczyrk
- Alpin Hotel in Szczyrk
- Apartamenty Parkowe in Szczyrk
- Denny’s Steakhouse Restaurant in Szczyrk
- Karczma Zachcianek in Buczkowice
- SAIDA Dance Academy in Bielsko-Biala
- “Med Miracle” Aesthetic Medicine Center in Bielsko-Biała
- Regional Vodkas
- Idee Kaffee
- Direct Channel
- Beauty Center “Catherine” in Szczyrk
- General and Pharmaceutical Wholesale P.H.U. GAMAX in Bielsko-Biala
- Łeba and Mikołajki – Partners of Szczyrk in promotional campaigns Sea, Mountains and Masuria
- KAMELO pottery workshop
- Iglo Bar in Szczyrk
- Guesthouse DANA in Szczyrk
Congratulations to our tireless participants for their strength and determination. The prizes for the top three winners in each age category are waiting at the Tourist Information Office. The prizes include free stays in Szczyrk, Łeba and Mikołajki, invitations to restaurants in Szczyrk, vouchers to use in beauty centres, entries to SAIDA Dance Academy, tickets to Amusement Park in Slovakia, Hi-Tec bags and backpacks, 3D colouring books, promotional packages of Bielsko District, Tax Control and Citroen, toys, mugs, and more attractive gadgets.
Congratulations and we hope to see you next year!
The full list of winners can be found at: FB Profile
Photos © Andrzej Kempa