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Kateryna Yushchenko Takes Part in the Pride of the Country All-Ukrainian Awards Ceremony
30 March 2007 21:30
March 30, 2007, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund Kateryna Yushchenko took part in the Pride of the Country All-Ukrainian awards ceremony.
Mrs. Yushchenko presented the award to Dnipropetrovsk-based Natalia Nikolenko, winner in the Moral Courage nomination. This 20-year-old girl suffers from a congenital disease, arthrogryposis. People with this disorder have underdeveloped disfunctional extremities. Besides, Natalia’s feet have been conjoined behind her back since birth, so that she was unable to sit and had to lie spread-eagled either in her bed or in a wheeled cart. She has undergone a series of surgeries and is now learning how to sit. However, the horrible disease didn’t prevent Natalia from mastering painting and embroidery. The girl creates wonderful patterns, holding a pencil or brush with her teeth. She also embroiders icons and paintings, uses computer and cell phone in the same manner.
Addressing the audience, Mrs. Yushchenko said, “I am grateful to fate because today millions of people in Ukraine will learn about Natalka Nikolenko. Every single day Natalka is fighting for her life, for the joy of getting to know the world and being its part. With her will to live, courage, willpower, and ability to overcome everyday problems and unite people, Natalka offers rescue and hope to thousands of our fellow Ukrainians who need help.” Mrs. Kateryna added that the Ukraine 3000 Fund was in the middle of negotiations with the Hunger Orthopedic Group (Miami, US) regarding Natalka’s medical examination and, possibly, prosthesis.
On Behalf of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund. Mrs. Yushchenko gave Natalia Nikolenko a chin-controllable electronic wheelchair, ordered by the Fund at the Lviv Prosthesis Shop specially for Natalia.
November 3, 2006, being in Dnipropetrovsk on a working trip, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund had got a chance to meet with Natalia Nikolenko.
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