Appeal to help heal director Bekim River, who suffers from cancer

Pristina Faculty of Arts director and renowned professor Bekim River, has been facing serious cancer for two years.

Since a long period of time and the overwhelming expenses that he had covered for himself and with the help of friends, a portion of the Ministry of Health has already become tired of affording all these expenses on his own.

Theatre, music and film stage artists have recently made a call to assist director Lumí, reports Schneta newspaper. Below, find the full call as well as the contact data and others if you want to help.

Dear friends,

We, underscored artists of the theatre, film, music and television scenes, friends and collaborators of director Bekim River, are initiators of this letter, through which we appeal to people of goodwill for help, support and financial solidarity. For two years, the well-known director and professor of UP's Faculty of Arts, Bekim River, has been facing serious cancer.

During this time, the costs of long medical treatment in Germany have been enormous, and they, with great strain, have been met only by the family of Bekim. Meanwhile, in part, he has also been assisted by some artists, his close friends, as well as the Ministry of Health and the Government of Kosovo. But in the face of the staggering cost of medical treatment, those assistance have already been spent.

Now a critical moment has come, when, because of great financial expenses, he needs our greatest support to continue coping with cancer. The medical services in Germany have gone unaffordable. To him, the specifics of cancer include a particular therapy, which, in addition to frequent medical tests, implies medical treatment with a drug that costs no less than 8,500 (eight thousand and five hundred), Euro per month.

Medical treatment with this drug lasts at least one to two years, meaning that in just one year, it costs to exceed the amount of 100,000 (a hundred thousand) Euros. In practical terms, the costs of such treatment by blessing and his family are beyond compare.

In this sense, director and Professor Bekim River, who has done so much for the theatre, art and national culture, as well as for the education and artistic formation of young students and artists, there is a pressing need for our help, solidarity, and financial support. Therefore, we beg that, as long as you have will and financial opportunities, you help his recovery and, with that, his complete return to normal private and professional life.

Wanting to protect the integrity and dignity of director Bekim River's personality, this letter is sent to you via telephone, e-mail or Facebook, but without being seen in public. We beg that you in no way post it in the form of open status on Facebook or other social networks. Just send him, possibly, every friend or relative you think is willing to do and that it can financially help director Bekim River heal.

This initiative is widely supported by the community of artists and other public figures, but we in this letter, on practical issues, marked only some of its initials' names.

We are deeply grateful for your help, solidarity, and human support! To that end you can send your help to this bank account:

Conservator: BAKING HAPPINESS
Address: G. “Theodor Muzaka”, H. 1. 10, Pristina, 10,000, RKS, Kosovo
Count number 1110251567000198
Bank: ProCredit Bank Kosovo J.S.C.
Bank Address: R. George Bush, No. 16, Pristina, Kosovo

Meanwhile, for residents outside Kosovo, besides the above data, there should be additional notes:

Account No (IBAN): XK05112556000198
SW IFT (BIC) CODE: MBKOXRXX
Bank Identification Code: P RCBDEFFXX
Correspondent / Intermedial Bank: PROCREDIT Bank AG, Frankfurt am Main, German

With respect,

Adriana Matosh (Actor), Astrit Kabashi (Actor); Arben Zharku (Director of Kosovo Cinematographic Centre); Dardan Selimaj (Kosovo Philharmonic Manager); Fatmir Spahiu (Actor); Gresa Pallaska (Actore); Neziray (Drmamaturg); Luan Durmishi (Tnor), Rona Nisliu (Singer) etc., has finished their call.