St. Barbara Civil Association supports Lukáš and Radim in the hobbies pursued by their father

KARVINÁ – Brothers Lukáš (9) and Radim (11) Kosellek, living in the Karviná Old Town, pursue hobbies similar to those pursued by their father in his childhood. The younger one, featuring livelier nature, has started to go in for hockey. The older one is quieter, and in addition, he cannot go in for sports, and as such, he likes fishing. Unfortunately, it is not their father but the St. Barbara Civil Association that gives them “protective hand” in such activities. The St. Barbara Association helps children whose fathers died at work in the mines.

“We rank among the oldest ones in the St. Barbara Association. The boys do not remember their father very much,“ said Marcela (34), a widow after Miroslav Kosellek, a miner who used to be working in the Doubrava and ČSA Mine coalfaces. Over the years spent with the St. Barbara Civil Association, helping the miner’s families similarly affected by the destiny, she and both of her sons have become regular participants in various events and trips. They have not even missed the Disneyland.

“I was fishing with my father. I can remember it!” said Radim, who was four years old at that time. At present, he attends the fifth class of the elementary school, and in the new half-year of his school attendance, he appeared in the Fishing Club of Juventus, the Karviná Leisure Time Centre. It is quite a long way from his village, and as such, his family drives him to regular Saturday’s meetings of young fishers.

“I have got the fishing rod and other equipment from my granny. The St. Barbara Civil Association pays the Fishing Club Fees for me. There are twenty of us there, and we learn to get to know nature and fish. We will also be fishing, and I already have the Fishing Licence - it was quite easy to obtain it,“ specified Radim, who has undergone a coxa operation, and his doctor has ordered him to pursue less adrenalin hobbies only. He has already used his fishing rod in the Božena Němcová Park and by the Olza river, but he is still waiting for his first catch. “I am not sure whether the first fish, but surely the second one that I will catch will be given to Hanka from the St. Barbara Civil Association,” swore Radim.

Similarly to his younger brother, he is still waiting for the first live match for the SK Karviná. “For the time being, we are playing matches against one another. We train twice a week in our ice stadium,“ the third class pupil Lukáš has opened his heart, adding that he wants to be an ice-hockey forward. “However, I would not like to be any Jágr in spite of the fact that my mom would like me to become such a player,” insisted the ice-hockey preparation team player. The St. Barbara Civil Association has contributed to the purchase of his skates, gloves and ice-hockey stick.

“One has to take care of, feed, dress and provide the boys with shoes and to buy things for school. I am glad to be helped by the St. Barbara Civil Association,“ declared Marcela, who works as a canteen operator. She itself also supports the sons in other sports – one has snowboard, and the other one skis. And when Lukáš and Radim do not fish or play ice-hockey, they preferably ride a small cross motorbike.

(Radek Lukša)