My name is Šárka and I am writing to you as a long-standing family friend to ask for your help for Leona and her family, who find themselves in a very difficult situation following a series of tragic events.

It all began on 13 February 2022 at the Tauplitz ski resort in Austria. Leona’s husband Karel, whilst trying to avoid a small child, collided with an Austrian skier, who suffered serious injuries in the accident. This was followed by lengthy legal proceedings in Austria, which ended with a final judgement and substantial financial claims against the family.

The original claim exceeded €217,000, and substantial costs for legal proceedings and legal representation were also awarded. The family was convinced that they were well covered for such situations, as they had taken out high-quality insurance. Nevertheless, the insurance cover was not sufficient to cover all the consequences of the tragedy.

The hardest blow, however, came on 10 July 2024. Completely unexpectedly, Leona’s husband Karel died of a pulmonary embolism. Within a short space of time, the family had lost not only a husband and father, but also their main source of support.

Following his death, Leona was left alone to shoulder the responsibility for the family, the household and dealing with the aftermath of the situation. Following further negotiations, the family was offered the option of an out-of-court settlement of approximately €143,000 in the form of a long-term repayment plan over 10 years. Leona decided to accept this agreement and to repay her obligations responsibly.

However, the regular repayments will place a long-term and extraordinary financial burden on the family. After making these payments, Leona will not have sufficient funds left for basic living expenses and maintaining a stable home for her family.

In addition to her regular job, she takes on part-time work to cover at least her basic living costs. Her children, who are just starting their working lives, do not yet have sufficient financial means to be able to help the family significantly.

Leona is not trying to shirk her responsibilities. On the contrary, she is doing her utmost to meet her obligations whilst maintaining a dignified life and home for her family. Yet today she finds herself in a situation where, following all these tragic events, there is a risk that the family will be left without the means to cover their daily living expenses.

It would never have occurred to me that I would one day be publicly asking for help for someone who has worked honestly all her life and tried to manage everything on her own. Nevertheless, today I humbly ask all kind-hearted people to support Leona and her children, so that they may have the chance to get through this difficult period with dignity and retain their basic security – their home.

Who are we helping?

We will help Leona and her children, who, following tragic events, find themselves in a very difficult life and financial situation. Leona has been left alone with the responsibility for her family and daily living costs, and despite her best efforts, she is now struggling to keep a stable home and basic living conditions.

What exactly will the money from this fundraiser be used for?

The funds raised will be used primarily for:

• maintaining the family home,
• covering the household’s living expenses,
• supporting the family during a period of financial hardship.

The aim of the collection is not to pay off debts or liabilities, but to help the family cope with everyday life at a time when the family budget is under exceptional strain due to regular repayments arising from tragic events.