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Yellow T-shirts, collection boxes, and small fabric flowers. On the day of the fundraiser, students from the Faculty of Health Care Studies at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň (FZS) will be hard to miss. On Wednesday, May 13, two teams of young volunteers will take to the streets. They will start in the morning at the FZS building on Husova Street in the city center and gradually move to the university campus in Pilsen–Bory, where they will remain until the afternoon. People will be able to contribute to cancer prevention and research and, in return, receive a symbolic marigold flower this year adorned with a light purple ribbon, along with an information leaflet and an overview of free screening programs.

Those who do not encounter students during the day can also donate at any University Library branch in Pilsen, where collection boxes will be available until Friday, May 15. The contribution amount is voluntary, with a recommended minimum of 20 CZK. Czech Day Against Cancer is one of the best-known public fundraising campaigns in the country. Every year, thousands of volunteers take part, distributing millions of yellow fabric flowers. The campaign is organized by the League Against Cancer Prague. Outside the University of West Bohemia, people can also obtain flowers and information leaflets at other distribution points until Sunday, May 17. A full list of locations is available on the campaign’s website.

The main theme of this year’s jubilee 30th edition of the public fundraising campaign is the prevention of head and neck cancers. In 2023, doctors in the Czech Republic newly diagnosed this type of cancer in more than two thousand patients, most of them men. According to Michaela Fridrichová, chair of the League Against Cancer Prague, the number does not have to be so high: “Head and neck cancers are strongly influenced by lifestyle. The main cause of most of these cancers is smoking, and when combined with alcohol, the risk increases significantly. Proper oral hygiene is also important.” Funds raised by the League Against Cancer support projects focused on cancer prevention, improving the quality of life of oncology patients, advancing cancer research, and equipping oncology departments with modern technology.

Donations can also be made remotely, for example by sending a donation SMS to 87 777 in one of the following formats: DMS KVET 30, DMS KVET 90, DMS KVET 290, or DMS KVET 490. Depending on the selected amount, the League Against Cancer will receive 29, 89, 289, or 489 CZK. Contributors can also send money directly to the Czech Day Against Cancer collection account 65 000 65/0300 or use a QR code payment (see the leaflet below).