The Polish Post Virtual Run is now just a fond memory, likely recalled by many participants. However, for some, it has had tangible results. These include sports clubs that received support from the funds raised during the event for the "Pocztowy Dar" Foundation. As a reminder, the total raised was PLN 13,974.
Lesznowola Sports Club – a football club that began operations in 2004. Currently, the club has nearly 30 members. Its goals include promoting the game of football among children, youth, and adults, promoting athletic development, and organizing leisure activities for local residents.
Despite the difficult situation related to the coronavirus pandemic, the club is trying to function normally, organizing training sessions and participating in league matches. Currently, Lesznowola Sports Club plays in the 7th Polish league, i.e., in the Radom-based Campeon.pl Class A, Group II, to which it was promoted in the previous 2019/2020 season. After the autumn round of the 2020/2021 season, it is in 11th place in the league table.
The Club's operations require funds to cover ongoing costs (including paying for the Club's participation in competitions and the club's coach). The Club is financed by membership dues, local sponsors, and municipal grants.
Recently, the Lesznowola Sports Club lost its training equipment in a fire in a warehouse located on the grounds of the Grójec Sports Center "Mazowsze." Thanks to the help of sponsors and donors, the club was able to return its participants to normal training.
" On behalf of the Club Board, players, and everyone associated with the Lesznowola Sports Club, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Pocztowy Dar Foundation, which has supported our activities. The funds we received from the Foundation were used to purchase equipment—training and match balls and cones—essential for coordination and movement training ," says Sławomir Siwiec, Vice President of the Club.
GKS Mazowsze
The club was founded in 1945 and began playing in the spring of 1946. This year it was supposed to celebrate its 75th anniversary, but the epidemic thwarted those plans.
Currently, the association has a football section with eight youth teams, all of which participate in the competitions organized by the Polish Football Association. The club also has a senior team, currently playing in the fourth Masovian league. A total of approximately 150 players are registered with GKS.
The club also organizes open non-sports activities. During the summer holidays, for example, it ran a project called "Stop Smartphones," which aimed to get children away from phones, tablets, and other electronic devices and into active outdoor activities.
GKS Mazowsze also suffered an unfortunate accident. On the night of September 3rd to 4th, a warehouse fire destroyed almost all of its sports equipment, including sportswear (match jerseys, tracksuits, jackets) and training equipment (balls, cones, poles, ladders). The club was unable to practice or play matches.
" The Foundation's support, which we have allocated to purchasing sports equipment for youth groups, is invaluable to our association. On behalf of the Board, players, and coaches, we sincerely thank you for this support ," says Jarosław Kostrzewa, President of the Board.
Dance Crew Dance School – The school was founded in 2013 as a dream come true for instructor Małgorzata Kosicka, who systematically inspired more and more children to love dance. The children developed their talents and skills in disco dance and disco show styles and represented their city in numerous competitions, achieving top positions. In 2018, they represented Poland at an international competition in the Czech Republic, winning 13 gold medals. In 2020, Małgorzata Kosicka founded the "Dance Dream" Foundation, which supports, among other things, the dance school. From her own funds, she also funded a dance scholarship for one of the school's dancers.
Today, approximately 60 children and young people, aged 4 to 20, attend the school. Dance Crew is their second home. They spend every free moment here, participating in the many free activities and events organized by the owners. The dance nights are their biggest attraction.
She's coping as best she can during the pandemic. The first wave, during which she had to suspend her activities, was very difficult for her. The second wave isn't any easier – parents, fearing for their children's health, are suspending their participation in classes or moving them to online training. The most difficult incident, however, was the one that occurred on September 28th of this year. The school was flooded with hundreds of liters of water. The building was devastated, the classrooms were flooded, and nothing could be saved. The losses are so significant that they have to start all over again. The school's administrators are convinced that for the children who have dance in their hearts and fight their weaknesses during every training session, it's worth it.
" The support we received from the Pocztowy Dar Foundation allowed us to begin renovations. With the money from the Foundation, we purchased a dance floor for the practice rooms. We also purchased sound equipment. The kids can't wait to show off their pirouettes and do the splits on the new floor. Our dance family sends our heartfelt thanks. You give us hope for a return to action, for a slice of normalcy in these incredibly difficult times. For our kids, dancing is a respite from their problems, a fulfillment of dreams, and a constant fight for a better tomorrow, " says Małgorzata Kosicka, President of the "Dance Marzenie" Foundation.
Once again, we would like to thank all the participants of the Virtual Run, not only for their sporting emotions, but also for their big hearts!
