St. Petersburg 2010 Hospital Visit

© ATPBenjamin Becker and Pablo Andujar visit a children's hospital in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg Open has been involved for many years in social programs mainly aimed at supporting children and youth. Those charitable activities traditionally include fundraising events, bringing kids from underprivileged families to the tournament, organising player visits to the orphanages and hospitals as part of their STARS activities.

St. Petersburg Open 2010 was marked by yet another long-term charity partnership. St. Petersburg Open initiated a support program for the Infant Leukemia Therapy Department at the Children’s Hospital. The launch of this program – a visit to the hospital - was a joint effort by St. Petersburg Open, AdVita non-government charity organization and Nikolay Valuev Foundation.

St. Petersburg Open invited two players - Benjamin Becker and Pablo Andujar to take part in this event and Valuev Foundation was represented by its President, famous boxing professional Nikolay Valuev.

The meeting with the leukemia department’s patients, their parents and doctors was held in the hospital playroom, where the central activity was drawing pictures for the future tennis cartoon animation. Drawing turned into a fun party with a delivery of presents from the tournament and its partners, followed by an extended autograph and photo session.

Concluding the event, St. Petersburg Open Directorate, Nikolay Valuev, AdVita representatives and hospital administration staff came out to the press with a joint statement stipulating the importance of joint effort and significance of wide publicity available at major international sport events to draw public and sponsor attention to such vulnerable issues as infant cancer. Throughout the tournament St. Petersburg Open also provided fund-raising opportunities for AdVita NGO that helps to finance leukemia medication, equipment and medical procedures at First Children Hospital.

St. Petersburg Open considers corporate responsibility as part of its mission and will continue maintaining these programs in the future.