RED LINE: CHANGING LIVES DESPITE THE CRISIS

We have been through a global pandemic that has created volatility in markets and thus exacerbated social problems. At the same time, this difficult period has underlined the importance of charity: 2020 was a good year to give to those most impacted by this challenging environment. Many non-profit organizations noted an increase in donations but the number of those in need has also increased dramatically.

Red Line is a young organization that is just taking its first steps in helping people without limbs. The quarantine restrictions affected the results of the foundation’s work, but the team did everything it could to resume operations as quickly as possible. In 2020, we assisted Dean Parry (47) from Spain, Benoit Protets (21) from France, Suzanne Raggers (14) from the Netherlands, Cosmin Achirei (14) from Romania and Noel Lemke (26) from Germany.

Red Line considers each case individually: every patient is important to us. The Red Line team was worried about the fate of Dean, who was injured during a storm in Spain. His right leg was trapped and crushed in a car that was swept along by raging waters. Dean's ankle was shattered, necessitating an amputation. However, sepsis made things worse, and his leg was subsequently amputated further up. The Foundation paid for the purchase of a modern prosthesis manufactured by the well-known company Ottobock.  

Benoit from Bordeaux was born with a forearm limb difference and was disappointed with the prosthesis he had. It was insufficiently functional and aesthetic. The young man was interested in the bionic prosthesis Hero Arm, because of its lightweight. He was sure that it would play an instrumental role in his academic activities and internships to come. Red Line made these dreams come true.

The 14-year-old boy from Romania Cosmin Achirei went through an amputation as a baby at the age of one month after a botched injection. Cosmin, whose mother died, is being raised by a father who works abroad. So he is looked after by his aunt. His family couldn’t afford prosthetic care. Thanks to financial assistance from Red Line, specialists were able to made Cosmin a prosthesis that has both the hip joint and the knee joint. 

The end of the year was marked by a new partnership for the Foundation. Red Line has started working with the national leader in the Netherlands for leg and arm prostheses, De Hoogstraat Orthopedietechniek. The organization has more than thirty years of experience in making leg prostheses. The first patient to receive assistance through the collaboration was Suzanne (born in 2006) who suffered from a congenital reduction defect. Thanks to the professional work of prosthetists and the support of the Foundation, the seemingly impossible happened: with the new devices, Suzanne was able to run right away.

In December, the foundation paid for two below-knee sports prosthetics for Noel from Germany. All four of his limbs were amputated before the age of one as a result of a meningococcal infection. It was extremely important to choose devices that would give him maximum mobility. The prosthetics were provided by the Center for Mobility Radspieler. Now the young man has a chance to fulfill his dream and start training for the Paralympic Games.

Member of Board of Trustees Olga Shershen stated: “Last year was difficult for everyone, including us, so we could not help everyone. Nonetheless, we worked with a variety of clinics and patients in Europe. The Foundation is constantly expanding its geographical scope and establishing new partnerships, looking for opportunities to solve patients’ problems as comfortably as possible. It was not easy to work in a pandemic and this slowed down the solution of certain issues, but we hope that this year we will be able to help more people”.

Red Line was created in 2019 in Switzerland. The foundation’s main goal is to provide financial assistance for the acquisition of prostheses for amputees or people born without limbs. The charitable organization was created thanks to a private initiative of Rodion Butko and is funded by the income from his company Bredley Holding. Red Line operates in Europe. However, there are no other restrictions for patients. A person of any gender, age and background can apply to the organization. Each case is considered on an individual basis. All you need to do is send documents confirming the diagnosis and the bill from the hospital where the patient is going to receive prosthetic care to info@redlinefoundation.ch.