RECEPTION IN HONOUR OF "BIG HEART" HUMANITARIAN ACTION AT THE WHITE PALACE

Belgrade, 24 December 2008. – Under the patronage of HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation, a reception took place last night at the White Palace in honour of the humanitarian action Big Heart which will collect founds for purchasing necessary equipment for newly the opened Department for Congenital Heart Disease of children and adults at the University Children’s Hospital in Tirsova, Belgrade.

Due to previously accepted obligations abroad Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine were not able to attend the event, on their behalf guest were welcomed by Mr. Dusan Babac, member of the Privy Council.

In his welcoming speech Mr. Dusan Babac pointed out: It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to welcome you all on behalf of Their Royal Highnesses. I am very glad that after the successful completion of the first part of the project “Big Heart” where we helped people with special needs, we will continue helping people in need by purchasing necessary equipment for the newly opened department for Congenital Heart Disease in Tirsova Hospital. This is the first department in our country which specializes in the recovery of patients that are suffering from congenital heart problems and due to that it is very important to equip it as best as possible”.

Following Mr. Dusan Babac’s ,Prof Dr. Ida Jovanovic the head of the Paediatric Department in the Hospital in Tirsova pointed out the importance of this Department for patients with congenital heart disease, since the unit is unique in Serbia.

This humanitarian action was marketed the launching of a music video with the song “God Grant” performed by Ivan Plavsic in cooperation with music group Zana. The video, directed by Mr. Dejan Milicevic will demonstrate this effort in order to inspire people to contribute to this cause by sending SMS to numbers 064/1051, 065/1051 and 066/1051.

At this reception, Mr. Ivan Plavsic, the author of the project delivered golden special golden coins to the friends of the action.

The Department for Congenital Heart Diseases for children and adults at University Children’s Hospital in Tirsova was opened on 9th December 2008 on the initiative and with great endeavours of the HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation, Prof. Dr. Afksendios Kalangos, Head of Cardiovascular surgery at the University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland in cooperation with the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of the Clinical Centre of Serbia and University Children’s Clinic in Tirsova.

We would like to thank all companies and individuals that supported the action Big Heart, among whom are: Alma Quattro, DPC, Art foundry VOZDOVAC, S Media, newspapers ALO, Press Publishing Group, Magazine Gloria, TV Kopernikus, Musical Production Melos Markediig, Roadstar radio, Fashion House MONA, Naxi Radio, Nostalgie Radio, Sava Insurance, Magazine Svet , TV Svet Plus, PGP-RTS and many others.