Meeting with Lithuanian National Men's Basketball Team

On the 4^th of August, 2010, the team of Rugutė spent a striking day in Kaunas. Linas Kleiza Charity and Support Fund invited us to come and meet the Men’s basketball select team of Lithuania.

 

Everything started with a pleasant phone call from Jurgita, the representative of Linas Kleiza Charity and Support Fund, shortly after we came home from the Olympic Games in Warsaw. She offered to organize a meeting with Meeting with Lithuanian National Men's Basketball Team for the same children who represented our country in Poland.

 

On Wednesday morning the little Fighters gathered by the Sports Hall in Kaunas. Just a few timid steps and our team made it to the place where men are working hard for future victories in the World Basketball Championships in Turkey.

 

The time flew by quickly as we watched the select team’s training session. Children were fascinated by the amount of strength the preparation for the World Championships requires from the basketball players. We did not have any difficulties understanding the rules, because Dianytė’s brother Paulius, the little basketball player, explained everything to us.

 

After the training session, the basketball players gave each of the children a signed basketball. The children shared the warmth of their hearts as well: wishing the best luck in Turkey, they gave each of the men a hand-made Captain’s ship. The little Olympians showed their medals, hoping to inspire the select team with Figter’s spirit, and sincerely wishing them to bring medals home from Turkey.

 

A few more moments passed while taking pictures with the beloved basketball players and collecting their signatures on t-shirts. Seeing how badly Naglis wanted to throw the ball into the basket, Robertas Javtokas took little Naglis in his arms, lifted him up and, followed by our loud applause, Naglis made the basket.

 

After the meeting all the children were privileged to have dinner with Linas Kleiza. The famous basketball player had no time to eat – children buried him in questions. They needed to know, when the player’s interest in sports began, what he would do if there was no basketball, what is more important – to take part in a game or to win it, do players have time to smile while playing basketball... After dinner children received various gifts: basketball souvenirs, posters, magazines and stickers.

 

Later the children got to experience one more surprise. We all went to the pier in Kauno Marios, where the special boat was already waiting for us. There were three different cakes in the boat! While the children were trying to choose which cake they wanted first, the boat departed from the pier and we spent a few fun hours on the water.

 

As soon as all three cakes were eaten, Vytukas the Clown appeared out of nowhere. He showed tricks, played games and made balloon animals for everyone, making the children smile all throughout the trip. Having so much fun, we didn’t even notice how our boat returned to the pier. Even though this striking day was over, we knew that the memories of it would live in the little Fighters’ hearts for a very long time.

 

We say the most profound thank you to Linas Kleiza Charity and Support Fund for the unforgettable day they organized for the children.

 

We also say an endless thank you to Jurgita for her care and beautiful ideas,
and to Linas Kleiza for his good will and sincerity.

 

We thank all the Meeting with Lithuanian National Men's Basketball Team for the precious moments spent with the children.
These special moments will provide strength to the children in all of their future fights.

 

 

Photo gallery - Meeting with Lithuanian National Men's Basketball Team

 

 

More information:

 

Children with Oncological Diseases Had an Opportunity to Meet Famous Lithuanian Basketball Players / www.kaunietis.lt, News and Information Portal, 04-08-2010

 

Children with Oncological Diseases Saw Men’s Basketball Select Team of Lithuania Up Close / www.delfi.lt, Internet Portal, 05-08-2010