Leading Czech palliative care NGO holds anniversary auction
Next Monday will see the opening of the 15th live charity auction organised by Cesta domů, a leading Czech non-profit organisation. Cesta domů plays a vital role in ensuring that professional care for people at the end of life and their loved ones remains accessible and affordable in the comfort of their own homes. Held once a year, the event combines a charity auction with direct support for those who need it most.
This year’s art auction will feature 183 works by prominent Czech artists, all of whom have generously donated their pieces. Anna Mančalová, Head of Communications at Cesta domů, describes the range of items on offer:
“There will be paintings, photographs, drawings, prints, objects, jewellery and design pieces. If I were to highlight a few, I might mention Anna Zemánková, a representative of art brut. Another particularly interesting item is a piece of jewellery by Hanuš Lamr. His brooches are worn by the First Lady and were also worn in the past by Madeleine Albright.”
The auction is a vital source of funding for Cesta domů, which provides palliative care to patients and support to their families. However, the organisation’s mission goes beyond providing care: it also aims to raise public awareness and inform patients and their families about the support available to them.
“Palliative care focuses on patients and their families when they are facing a serious illness. Its goal is to ensure that patients can live the rest of their lives with dignity, to relieve pain and to offer support not only to patients themselves but also to their families,” Mančalová explains.
All proceeds from the auction will go towards supporting Cesta domů’s work, including the purchase of essential equipment such as specialised adjustable beds. However, raising public awareness is equally important. Mančalová emphasises that a significant proportion of the general public still know little about palliative care.
“Cesta domů started 25 years ago with a single adjustable bed, and since then, we have developed not only our care services but also our educational and awareness-raising initiatives. We would like to continue along this path. We consider education to be a particularly important aspect of our work.”
Czechia’s population is aging, and being there for a loved one during the final days of their life can be an extremely difficult experience for everyone involved. Palliative care is one way of helping patients and their families through this challenging time, and its importance is likely to increase in the years ahead.
Mančalová says the organisation is preparing for growing demand and outlines its plans for the future:
“We can see that the need for this type of care will continue to grow. That is why educating professionals and families is absolutely crucial to us. We can do this thanks to the experience we have gained through providing care, and we want to pass that experience on to others. We also have one major plan concerning our care services: last year, we began operating an inpatient hospice, and we would like to significantly expand its capacity.”
To learn more about the work of Cesta domů and its upcoming charity auction, taking place on 2 November at the Hilton Prague Atrium hotel in Prague, visit the organisation’s website: https://www.cestadomu.cz/en
