On 7 August 2023, our colleague, volunteer and employee Borys Stankiewicz suffered a stroke and was taken to the Dr W. Roefler Railway Hospital in Pruszków. Immediate medical treatment significantly reduced the consequences of the stroke, although it did not prevent everything. Boris has facial and arm paresis, and his cognitive abilities are restricted. The prognosis is good, but prolonged and expensive rehabilitation will be required, which Boris cannot afford. He will be able to get to work in no less than six months, and he faces, among other things, having to learn to read and write again.
Boris has earned a reputation as a man with a big heart and a veteran “streetfighter” for the rule of law, democracy and human rights. He joined us as a volunteer in the early days of the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, quickly becoming a lead fitters and a chief technologist for bulletproof vests in our warehouse. He has repeatedly participated in humanitarian missions to Ukraine, was a paramedic during the pandemic and rallied with young angry people in defence of the climate.
Borys, together with Paweł Kasprzak and several other activists, was one of the first to actively speak out against Andrzej Duda in defence of the Polish Constitution (with a banner calling him a “liar” and a “perjurer”). That was in February 2016, and that rally symbolically ended the “civil” life of Borys — a Tricity entrepreneur who left the family business, moved to Warsaw, lived in a tent near the Sejm and became one of the first fully dedicated “street oppositionists”. Borys was (or rather remains) an activist of Citizens Solidary in Action (Obywatele Solidarnie w Akcji), Citizens of the Republic of Poland (Obywatele RP) and an activist of the Greens. He has also supported the activities of many initiatives and organisations including:
– Committee for the Defence of Democracy (KOD)
– Fundację Anioły Miłosierdzia (a.k.a. “Anioły Zagłady”),
– Fundację Znaki Pamięci,
– Open Dialogue Foundation.
When his savings from his “previous life” ran out, he took a job at a hospital and then, after a period of volunteering, at our Foundation.
He is known among his friends for his sense of humour, stoic calm, sharp tongue and realist’s perspective. A keen cyclist and an avid fan of Terry Pratchett’s works. A pastafarian. He has never refused to help. Let’s show Borys today that he can also count on us.
The target amount for the fundraiser is an estimate (and may change). All funds raised will be spent on covering the costs (as yet unknown exactly) costs of many months of rehabilitation, as well as paying rent, utility bills, food and other daily expenses.
As they say… Solidarity forever. Deeds, not words:
In the media: