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Hospitalized children in 98 Czech hospitals receive LEGO toys valued at millions of CZK!

Crossing their (Dr. Clown made)  balloon swords in a symbolic gesture, the PPL logistic team rolled up their sleeves yesterday to sort and deliver millions of CZK worth of LEGO toys to children’s wards of hospitals nationwide via the PPL distribution network.

With the shout: “One for all – all for one!” the PPL team kicked off one of the most amazing actions in Dr. Clown history: solving the logistical challenge to deliver a very large shipment of LEGO toys to 98 hospitals in the country.

“Without the support of PPL it would have been next to impossible for us to pull off the distribution of this incredibly voluminous shipment of toys we received from the LEGO foundation”, reflects Rafal Wojas, head of C4C’s Dr. Clown initiative and C4C co-founder.

Altogether 80 pallets of LEGOs, valued at over 4.5 million CZK, were donated to Dr. Clown by the popular Danish toy maker to brighten the lives of hospitalized and institutionalized children across the nation. Read more about it here. Of this, PPL distributed almost a quarter via their logistics network. Thus, millions of CZK worth of LEGOs found their way to thousands of eagerly waiting little patients - fighting boredom and the “Hospital Blues” while undergoing treatment in hospitals all over the country.

“Taking into consideration that LEGOs are long-lasting toys, children in hospitals all over the Czech Republic will have fun for years to come”, adds Rafal, and continues: “The impact is actually quite incredible”!

Rafal and his Dr. Clown teams have been working tirelessly to expand the Dr. Clown presence in hospitals beyond the actual clown visitations. After the clowns have left, the children can also enjoy Dr. Clown corners with Dr. Clown coloring books, floor games and computer rooms to help them feel more at ease and at home in their new environment. Read more here.

“The LEGOs are a very valuable addition to our concept of slowly converting hospital children’s wards into places where kids can have fun round the clock, diverting the attention of our little patients away from the sometimes frightening hospital environment and their ailments”, says Rafal. “This way, long after the clowns are gone - a Dr. Clown presence remains.”

Meanwhile, the phone keeps ringing at C4C’s offices. Doctors and nurses alike are calling to express their thankfulness and appreciation for the gifts received. Head nurse, Eva Waldova from the Ceske Krumlov hospital, aptly describes the situation as it unfolded in her hospital:

“When we opened LEGO gift boxes, the whole ward suddenly changed into a playground. Not only children started to play with LEGOs, but also nurses and doctors joined in the fun, spending time with the kids creating LEGO dream-castles.”

We think that is just great!