Let's help Věra get a life-saving medication

We turn to you with a request for help for Věra Duždová Horváthová – an exceptional woman, visual artist, writer, intellectual, and active member of civil society, who has long been dedicated to issues of human rights, cultural justice, and Roma identity.

Věra is also a wife and the mother of a four-year-old son, Jirka. Right now, however, she is facing a serious medical condition that threatens her life without timely treatment.

Diagnosis: Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome

At the age of 26, Věra was diagnosed with this rare genetic disorder, a syndrome that causes tumors to develop in various parts of the body. Despite undergoing complex surgeries and long-term treatments, the disease continues to return. Her most recent surgery took place in July 2024, followed by a complicated hospitalization and intensive rehabilitation. Unfortunately, a new tumor has appeared, and since the last operation was unsuccessful, further surgical intervention is no longer an option.

The cost of the treatment is extremely high, and time plays a crucial role.

There is hope – but it comes at a high cost

Doctors have recommended treatment with a new targeted drug, Welireg, which could save Věra’s life. However, this medication is not covered by public health insurance.

Věra has submitted a request for exceptional reimbursement under §16 of the Public Health Insurance Act in the Czech Republic, but it remains uncertain if and when it will be approved.

How Will the Fundraiser Help?

Through this public fundraiser, we aim to gather financial resources to cover the cost of this life-saving treatment and related expenses for at least one year.

Your support will help Věra not only continue her treatment but also pursue her life’s mission: being a mother, creating, educating, and inspiring others.

About Věra Duždová Horváthová

Věra is an exceptional woman—a visual artist, writer, intellectual, and active member of civil society from the Czech Republic.

She attended FAMU and the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague and has long been devoted to visual arts and writing, particularly in the field of Roma emancipation.

Věra has been actively engaged in publishing on social justice and cultural heritage, with her texts appearing in prestigious publications such as Respekt and Host, and she was a regular columnist for the literary portal H7O.

Her artwork has been exhibited both in the Czech Republic and internationally (India, Berlin, Strasbourg, Graz). Her work has been presented at institutions such as DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, the AVU Gallery, and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.

As a respected advocate of intercultural dialogue, Věra has earned the trust of both the Roma and majority society with her calm, courageous, and deeply human approach.

Help Věra Live – and Create

Your support truly matters. Every contribution—big or small—gives Věra hope, time, and a fighting chance against this relentless illness. Thank you for your solidarity, trust, and for sharing this appeal.

The public fundraiser is conducted in accordance with Act No. 117/2001 Coll. on Public Collections.

All proceeds will be used exclusively to cover the costs of treatment, medical care, and supportive therapy for Věra Duždová Horváthová.