VIKI Foundation

I am very grateful that we can take part in helping children through the VIKI Foundation. As a family-run business with three children, we know how important it is to stay together—especially when life suddenly turns upside down.

Our lives were deeply affected by two events that changed everything for us. The first was the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in our eldest son, and the second was a fractured cervical vertebra suffered by our middle daughter. Fortunately, both stories have a good ending. Daniel is now 17 years old, very capable, and we have learned how to communicate with and support him. Our daughter Natálka recovered fully, and her vertebra healed without any lasting consequences. Still, it deeply saddens me that not all children are as fortunate.

Mrs. Markéta Cremonini, the founder of the VIKI Foundation, is a truly kind person, and I am genuinely excited about our new cooperation. I would like to share a quotation from Mrs. Cremonini herself, thanks to whom all of this came into being:

“A bench is a place where people meet, and it perfectly reflects our motto:‘Being together is the most valuable thing we have and the greatest gift we can give.’”

Viki loved spending time outdoors, where she used to meet her friends on benches. However, there was no bench in the garden by the Mlýnský Pond. I promised her that I would arrange one there. Today, I have fulfilled Viki’s wish. I deeply regret that I was not able to do it sooner…
I believe that this bench will bring joy to visitors of the garden.

At the same time, we are already preparing additional locations where you will be able to find benches from Viki.

You can purchase a bench for yourself, as a gift, for your company, or recommend it to your local municipality or favorite restaurant. By doing so, you support not only the VIKI Foundation, but also the idea of “BEING TOGETHER.”

VIKI Foundation

The VIKI Foundation was established in the spring of 2024, although the idea of founding it had been growing for much longer.

The inspiration and motivation behind it was the story of my Viki—a dreamer full of ideas and good spirits. It is a story of how our entire life changed in a single second, on one beautiful summer day, when cancer entered our lives in the form of Ewing sarcoma (the second most common malignant bone tumor).

Viki bravely fought the disease for more than two and a half years. Despite all the hardships, we experienced many beautiful moments during that time—moments when we truly understood what it means to be together. We met many wonderful new friends and learned which of the people already in our lives were truly there for us.

We also experienced the help of foundations, but unfortunately, disappointment as well—when Viki wrote a letter and no one ever responded.

We learned what it means to be able to rely on one another and how comforting it is to have someone to ask for advice in situations where, even though they may seem trivial, you simply don’t know what to do.

Viki wished to become a pediatric nurse in an oncology ward, where she could help children. As she used to say, because she knew what they were going through, she would be able to advise them, help them, and truly understand how they felt and what they needed.

Viki passed away in January 2022. Many of her dreams remained unfulfilled, and I would like to try to fulfill at least one of them—to help others.

Markéta Cremonini
Viki’s mother and founder of the VIKI Foundation