CHILD LUNG charity, the Breathing Life Trust, this week launched an awareness raising competition called Art for Life.
The competition aims to let children express how much they care about other children who are suffering by creating works of art and writing poetry.
The theme of this year’s competition is love and how it can comfort and heal those in need.
“Children’s creativity reminds us of the enormity of love, compassion and friendship which exists between children.
“Art for Life is their voice and their means to help other children who have to face struggles in their lives,” said John Mouskos, chairman of the Breathing Life Trust.
As part of the Art for Life competition, teachers and students will be invited to hospitals to meet with doctors. It is hoped that this will lead to greater understanding and form lasting friendships. Prizes of up to €1,000 will be awarded various charities on the winners’ behalf.
The 2010 competition has been dedicated to the memory of youngster Costakis Perdikos, who died from a lung condition.
“Seldom has a child shown such courage and will to survive when faced with the terrible reality of living with a severe lung condition.” Mouskos added.
Art works will appear in the media around the world, and have already appeared in the new paediatric pulmonary ward in Nicosia’s Makarios III hospital, opened by the Breathing Life Trust last month.
Speaking at the ward’s launch, Mouskos said, “The centre has been created to give hope to children with breathing disorders. It has been a significant achievement, because it provides world class facilities to the general public. I am confident that what we have here will be a reference point for all of the Eastern Mediterranean.”
n The competition closes on March 1, 2010, when a panel of judges will select a first, second and third place for each category. There will be six art categories and five poetry categories. To enter, images and poems can be submitted to the Art for Life website: www.breathinglife.org
Entrants are invited to visit Makarios III Hospital for inspiration. For more information about visits, call Dr Panicos Yiallouros on 22-405000 or email: [email protected]
