A bust sculpture of philanthropist Yelizaveta Glinka, known as Doctor Liza, has been unveiled on the premises of the Lugansk Republican Children’s Clinical Hospital (LRDKB).
The ceremony was attended by Lugansk People’s Republic Healthcare Minister Natalia Paschenko, LPR parliamentarians, LPR children's ombudswoman Yulia Nazarenko, representatives of the Doctor Liza’s Fair Help international charity organization and Archpriest Alexander Ponomaryov of the Lugansk Church of the Mother of God Icon “Tenderness.”
President of the international charity organization Olga Demicheva said that the bust had been produced as part of the Russian Glory Alley project. The monument was designed by Russian sculptor Salavat Shcherbakov.
“It’s the first monument to Doctor Liza in Donbass. It is a sacred and light-filled name for Russia, and an example to follow. The person who worked on Yelizaveta Petrovna’s image connected with her essence with his heart in such an amazing way, that he produced a life like monument: Liza smiles. She will smile at you, your children and, probably bring luck to all of you in your difficult work,” Demicheva said.
Nazarenko thanked the international charity organization volunteers for invaluable assistance in saving LPR children.
“I wish to convey the words of gratitude from LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik to the sculptor who so accurately showed Yelizaveta Petrovna’s character and mood. She helped every person regardless of their state or position in the society. She treated other people’s problems as her own,” she said.
Paschenko said that Doctor Liza who had saved many children, had made an invaluable contribution to preserving the future generation in Donbass.
“This is a person who helped children of the whole world, including Donbass all her life. We, Donbass residents, are thankful for the assistance provided to us by Doctor Liza and her followers,” the minister said adding that hundreds of LPR children had been saved thanks to the Russian Healthcare Ministry and the charity’s mediation.
“We remember. It’s a great pity that she’s no longer with us. You can do what she was doing only if you have a loving heart. Our joint task is to ensure a happy childhood for our children. Thank you so much,” LPR parliamentarian Denis Kolesnikov said.
Doctor and philanthropist Yelizaveta Glinka was on board the Tu-154 plane of the Russian Defence Ministry on a flight to Syria on December 25, 2016. The plane met with an accident several minutes after the take-off from Alder Airport. The crash killed 92 people including journalists and military music ensemble members who were going to perform for the Russian airmen at the Khmeimim Air Base ahead of the New Year.
Doctor Liza was among the first who lent a helping hand to Donbass residents. She sent seriously ill and wounded children to Russia for treatment and regularly provided humanitarian assistance to People’s Republics’ health centres.
Glinka set up the international public organization Fair Help in 2007. Its key objective is to provide assistance to homeless people, dying patients, lonely pensioners and the disabled who lost their homes and incomes. The charity has made arrangements for the treatment of seriously ill and wounded children of Donbass at Russian health centers since March 2014.*i*b
