Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, laureate of the “People of freedom” contest organized by the ‘Gazeta Wyborcza’ and the TVN planted an oak tree – a symbol of Poland’s 25 years of freedom at the World Hearing Centre. At this ceremony he was accompanied by Ms. Teresa Sukniewicz – Kleiber, world record-holder in hurdles and secondary school students – cochlear implant users, implanted during the last several years at the Institute of Pathology and Physiology of Hearing. The tree, planted on 10th October, grows beside the main path in the Park of 10 Thousand Steps.
– We plant the Tree of Freedom in token of remembrance . In 25 years we shall meet in the same place, see how our tree has grown, how the World Hearing Centre has changed and what progress it has made. The important thing in life is to pursue your goals, taking advantage of the opportunities created by the modern world. – said Prof. Skarżyński to the group of young patients. – When I was nominated the Man of Freedom in the nationwide poll organized by the TVN and the ‘Gazeta Wyborcza’, I said I was grateful that the scientists were included in this group of exceptional people, who took advantage of the opportunity to do what we can do, to show what are able to achieve. I wish you, young people, the same chances. – said Prof. Skarżyński.
The Park of 10 Thousand Steps, where the Tree of Freedom was planted, has been opened in 2012, at the 20th anniversary of the first cochlear implantation in Poland. Teresa Sukniewicz – Kleiber is the initiator and greatest supporter of the idea of 10 thousand steps. Promoting healthy lifestyle, she popularizes the idea that making 10 thousand steps every day averts many diseases and prolongs life.
Planting of the Tree of Freedom was part of the Tree Festival organized by the Gaja Club. This year its motto was “The Tree Festival – the Tree of Freedom”, and it was organized under the honorary patronage of the President of Poland. Mr. Bronisław Komorowski.
