The PIEROTT Christmas Challenge has now been held a total of seven times, allowing us to bring happiness to dozens of children who are battling various diagnoses or come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
One of the children who received a gift is 11-year-old Mária, a wonderful and brave girl who, at the age of just three, was diagnosed with a serious illness that left her paralyzed on the left side of her body. Throughout her life, she has undergone a huge number of tests, rehabilitation sessions, and hospital stays, yet she remains courageous and continues to fight against the tough challenges that life throws her way. Her great passion is building LEGO sets, although, due to her condition, she can only use one hand to do so. We decided to fulfill her Christmas wish by purchasing a LEGO set that allows her to build an animal café.
Another pair of children whose Christmas dreams we helped fulfill are siblings Samko and Sabínka, who live with their devoted mother. They were in urgent need of a computer, as they didn’t have one and lacked basic computer skills. We decided to buy them a brand-new laptop, which will serve the entire family for learning and education.
We also helped 9-year-old Kristínka, who struggles with childhood autism and a speech disorder, to bring her joy at Christmas and support her development. We gave her an interactive book with an electronic pen, which helps develop children’s language skills and correct pronunciation.
Other children were delighted with gifts such as board games, coloring books, crayons, a remote-controlled car, and sweets.
One story that touched our hearts and left a deep impression on us is that of 11-year-old Samko, who suffers from mental illnesses and is raised by his mother alone. Samko is a very smart boy, works hard at school, but his mental health challenges prevent him from enjoying life as much as his peers do. There are only a few things that help children with his condition get through tough days. In Samko’s case, it’s the magic and atmosphere of Christmas and the movie Home Alone, which brings him comfort and joy. That’s why we bought him a DVD of his favorite movie and a pair of turtle doves, which appear in the movie as a symbol of hope and friendship—values Samko finds in his loving mother.
