Foundation activities
I want life!
The campaign "I want life!" is a story which started with Ana's letter in which she said that all of her wishes fit into three little words.
After the successful auction of photographs taken by Ana's colleagues, Ana and her three friends were in excellent moods. The whole thing had gone so well that they started joking about organizing a concert next, since they were obviously on a roll. Ana already knew that she would not need the money, as she had found alternative ways to finance her treatment, but she was ready to put all of her effort into campaigning to raise the full amount of money to fulfill her dream: money for all the other people who are fighting hematological diseases. "If 2 million is enough just for me and we need just a little more for everyone else, let's go ahead and raise it all!" she said. And just like that, what was going to be a small concert in one of Zagreb's clubs turned into a big humanitarian concert on Ban Jelačić Square, accompanied by numerous blood drives and citizens joining the voluntary bone marrow donor Registry.
The concert was organized and produced at a cost of "0" Kuna, as one of our colleagues put it. In other words, no expense was incurred thanks to the kindness of the many generous people who donated their services, products and time.
History of "I want life!" Campaign
08.11.2006.Ana sent an e-mail to some friends which started a wave of human kindness » more
10.11.2006. Ana's letter was first published
20.11.2006. A photo auction was held in Cro Art Photo Club featuring the work of Ana's colleagues » more
21.11.2006. We were amazed by the campaign's success and the idea of a concert was born. Ana exchanged ideas with us from the hospital by mobile phone and e-mail
24.11.2006. Our little, but active team was created
25.11.2006. A meeting was held in our friend's office as we didn't have any other place to meet
26.11.2006. Ana left us in the early morning, but her vision carries on» more
27.11.2006. Establishment of the Ana Rukavina Foundation was announced and the campaign, "I want life!" was launched
28.11.2006. The city of Zagreb granted approval for the concert to be held on Ban Jelačić Square
30.11.2006. We said our goodbyes to Ana at Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb
07.12.2006. We held our first press conference to announce our work and the upcoming concert » more
12.12.2006. Ana was voted person of the year by Media Servis. Ana's sister, Gordana, accepted the award » more
16.12.2006. The first drawing of blood samples for tissue typing took place on Flower Square, where we received help from well known TV and theater personalities » more
20.12.2006. A charity auction and humanitarian concert took place in Club Macao at Jarun » more
21.12.2006. The concert, "I want life!" and the drawing of blood samples for tissue typing was held on Ban Jelačić Square » more
03.01.2007. We held our second press conference to announce our upcoming activities and to thank all of our sponsors and donors » more
24.01.2007. Mr. Jure Matovina from Ogulin was the 5,000th donor to be added to the Registry » more
26.01.2007. Ana was named "Zagreb's Woman of the Year" » more
14.02.2007. Oliver Dragojević held a concert and part of the proceeds were donated to the Foundation. The Foundation received its registration documents and formally started to work on Valentine's Day.
19.02.2007. We held our third press conference to announce the campaign in all national theatres in Croatia and to report on our progress » more
21.02.2007. The campaign "The Best Show for Ana" was held in all the Croatian national theaters» more
23.02.2007. Miss Blanka Vrgoč from Osijek was the 10,000th donor to be added to the Registry » more
25.02.2007. Massimo held a concert for Ana in Osijek » more
08.03.2007. The award, "Zagreb's Woman of the Year" was received in Ana's name » more
12.03.2007. Mrs. Biljana Puharić from Makarska was the 15,000th donor to be added to the Registry » more
20.03.2007. We held our fourth press conference to announce the opening of the cord blood bank and the race at Bundek Lake » more
25.03.2007. The humanitarian race, "I want life!" was held at Bundek Lake » more
28.03.2007. We started the national campaign, "The Cure Is In Us" on Ana's birthday with a humanitarian rock concert in Osijek and the opening of the umbilical cord blood bank bearing Ana's name at Rebro Hospital » more
The campaign "I want life!" lasted for a total of 142 days (08.11.2006-28.03.2007). During the campaign, the number of names added to the voluntary bone marrow donor Registry increased from 150 to 20,000.
There were more than 51 blood drives held in over 30 Croatian towns to take samples for tissue typing. The "I want life!" campaign raised in excess of 2,700,000 Kuna.
In the period from July 16th to August 16th 2010, 1000 new potential donor samples of bone marrow and stem cells have been tissue typed using the DNK method for HLA (HLA - Human leukocyte antigen) A, B and DRB1! more »
700 new donor blood samples have been tissue typed. The Registry now lists 15,875 HLA tissue typed donors which are able to be searched for genetic compatibility and tissue tolerance between the donor and the patient who is awaiting bone marrow transplantation for treatment. more »
Among the winners of the Top Scholarships, the Foundation’s volunteer, Neven Mihić, received special recognition: the “Top Scholarship Ivo Pukanić” award, bestowed by the collegium of the editorial board of Nacional in honor of the late Ivo Pukanić, who was one of authors behind the idea for the entire project. more »
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