More than 175 million zlotys - that's how much has been collected during this year's Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. The counting goes on and the final sum should be revealed soon. The gathered funds will be spent on medical equipment for pulmonology wards in Polish hospitals. Will the fundraiser break another record? Let's take a look at previous Grand Finales.
The 32nd Grand Finale of the GOCC took place on Sunday (Jan. 28). The main goal of this year's fundraiser is the purchase of equipment for diagnosis, monitoring, and rehabilitation of pulmonary diseases among kids and adults. Altogether, there are 64 respiratory units across Poland.
This year's mottos were "Post-pandemic lungs. We play for kids and adults alike!" and "We are all in tune!".
The GOCC Foundation plans to purchase:
- equipment for diagnostic imaging, i.a. MRI and ultrasound equipment;
- equipment for functional diagnosis, i.a. polysomnographs and portable spirometers;
- equipment for endoscopic diagnosis, i.a. navigational bronchoscopy systems and bronchoscopes;
- equipment for rehabilitation - equipment for pulmonary rehabilitation used in the treatment of patients after lung transplantation;
- equipment for thoracic surgery, e.g. electrocoagulation systems and cryoprobes.
"The Great Orchestra played its 32nd Grand Finale! It was an exceptional day. And the declared amount of funds raised during this year's collection exceeded our expectations!" - the charity organization said at its website.
"Thank you so very much for being with us! The force that we have been creating for 32 years is incredible, out-of-this-world. We play in Poland, we play all around the world, we play everywhere, where friendship, love, and music prevail. Let it go on till the end of the world and a day longer - are you ready?! It does not end. It is just getting started. Thank you!" - said Jurek Owsiak, the chairman of the board of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.
The declared result of the 32nd Grand Finale amounted to PLN 175,426,813.00 - which is a new record. The declared sum, however, is not the final one. We shall find out what the final result is in a few weeks, once the counting has been completed.
Sums collected in recent years in PLN
Sums declared on the Grand Finale days are shown in brackets.
- 31st Finale (2023) - 243.3 million (154.6 million)
- 30th Finale (2022) - 224.3 million (136.2 million)
- 29th Finale (2021) - 210.8 million (127.4 million)
- 28th Finale (2020) - 186.1 million (115.3 million)
- 27th Finale (2019) - 175.9 million (92.1 million)
- 26th Finale (2018) - 126.3 million (81.4 million)
- 25th Finale (2017) - 105.5 million (62.4 million)
- 24th Finale (2016) - 72.6 million (44 million)
- 23rd Finale (2015) - 53.1 million (36.2 million)
- 22nd Finale (2014) - 52.4 million (35.4 million)
- 21st Finale (2013) - 50.6 million (39.8 million)
- 20th Finale (2012) - 50.6 million (40.2 million)
- 19th Finale (2011) - 47.2 million (37 million)
- 18th Finale (2010) - 42.8 million (36 million)
GOCC records
During the first ever Grand Finale back in 1993, the GOCC collected 3.7 million zlotys that were later used to buy heart monitors, incubators, defibrillators, syringe drivers, pulse oxymeters, and ventilators.
Ever since the charity has been breaking its own records. The threshold of 10 million zlotys was first surpassed in 1998, but already two years later the final sum exceeded 25 million.
The barrier of 100 million zlotys was surpassed on the 25th Finale in 2017.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, tvn24.pl
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: TVN24