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Clowns Rafal and Klarka kicking off Dr. Clown 2008 at Vinohrady hospital, Prague

After six weeks of intensive seminars and training, Chance 4 Children's (C4C) Dr.Clown team recently emerged with their new and improved program for 2008! The team now operates under the auspices of the Czech National Circus Berousek and their celebrated clowns. The National Circus coaches the C4C clowns in an advisory position to assure professionalism and quality, while the team is bringing their “Smile Therapy” to hospitalized children here in the Czech Republic.

“I’m happy that the expertise and experience of our clowns can be of help in this important program, trying to help hospitalized children fight disease and sickness and adjust to the sometimes frightening hospital environment”, says Jiri Berousek Jr., who himself oversees the cooperation with Chance 4 Children’s Dr. Clown team. “It is one thing to make kids laugh while in the circus, but clowning for sick children really takes the craft to a decidedly different level!”

After the initial training period, the team kicked off “Dr. Clown 2008” in February with visits to two children’s wards in the Kladno and Prague Vinohrady hospitals. Forgetting time, space and deadlines, the clowns stayed almost three hours in both cases, entertaining the eager young crowd, who, for the duration, forgot all about that they were patients and sick. “We were asked for several encores”, smiles clown Klarka. “The kids just wouldn’t let us go!”

Nurse Klara at the Vinohrady hospital gave the team a heart-felt thumbs-up: “It was fantastic! When you look at the smiling faces of the children you know you brought them happiness and a much needed diversion.”

For starters the Dr. Clown teams of enthusiastic clowns will regularly visit eight children’s wards in hospitals in Rakovnik, Slany, Kladno and Prague, to administer their tried and proven Smile Therapy to young patients there. In time, the program is expected to expand to different regions as well. A hearty “Thank You” goes to the National Cirkus Berousek for their hands-on support and patronage of this important and far reaching initiative!