Bulgarian President launches 11th annual ‘Bulgarska Koleda’ charity initiative
Bulgarian President Rossen Plevneliev officially opened the 11th annual Bulgarska Koleda (Bulgarian Christmas) charity initiative at Sofia’s Tsaritsa Yoanna Hospital on December 2 2013.
The annual Bulgarska Koleda campaign raises funds for the treatment of seriously ill Bulgarian children and for the purchase of medical equipment for children’s hospitals and clinics.
This year’s campaign will focus on assisting children with visual and hearing impairments.
Without timely intervention, these disabilities can seriously impair a child’s chances in life, Plevneliev said. Hearing loss, if not diagnosed in time, can lead to developmental delays – in speaking, as well as intellectually, emotionally and socially, the President said.
Unfortunately, Bulgaria had no equipment for screening, early diagnosis and timely treatment, he said.
It was up to everyone, parents and doctors, to meet the challenge and the responsbility to address the problem.
The 2012/13 Bulgarska Koleda campaign was focused on assisting children who have neurological disorders. The initiative last year raised more than two million leva (about a million euro).
The 2011/12 campaign raised 1.3 million leva.
In all, between 2003 and 2011, Bulgarska Koleda raised about 18.1 million leva.
There are various ways to support Българската Коледа:
Send an SMS to number 1117 via any of Bulgaria’s three mobile phone networks. Each SMS means one lev to assist a seriously ill child.
For fixed line phones, call 09001117.
Donations also can be made via ePay.bg or by money transfer to an account held in the name of Bulgarian National Television at United Bulgarian Bank, entitled Българската Коледа 2013: IBAN: BG13UBBS80023300186210, BIC code : UBBSBGSF.
