Dzmitry Rak's parents take him for treatment for their own money

Dzmitry Rak's career in sports was disrupted five years ago. The 30-year-old Belarusian freestyler fell and severely injured his head and neck during training at the World Cup stage in the Chinese city Jilin. Euroradio told about Dzmitry's rescue and rehabilitation before.

According to Dzmitry's mother, the rehabilitation process still continues.

"What can I say about this? Honestly, I don't know, – sighs Lidziya Rak. – He needs treatment, rehabilitation. We will not tell anything right now, we are going for treatment with Dzmitry".

The treatment course will last for a month. According to Lidziya Rak, Dzmitry's family paid for it themselves.

"He is not getting any better, – says Dzmitry Rak's friend, famous Belarusian freestyler Alyaksej Hryshyn. – However, his father doesn’t want to speak about it, and neither does his mother."

According to Hryshyn, Dzmitry Rak's parents were left with almost no help recently. Last year, the freestyler took a risk and conducted an action called "Ribbon of Saint George", the incomes of which should have gone to the fund of help to the disabled sportsmen. The black-and-orange ribbons appeared in the shops of Belarus on February 23, 2011. However, the people didn't want to buy them.  

Alyaksej Hryshyn: "The action was a great failure, I even lost my own money...Unfortunately, the people bought not very many ribbons. Frankly speaking, they bought very few. At present moment, I lost about 20 thousand dollars. It would be better if I gave this money to Dzmitry".

Hryshyn is not going to stop the action so far and hopes that people will support the sportsmen who sacrificed their health for our country's great sportive achievements. 

The most frequent word that we heard from freestylers and coaches when we asked them a question when they cared about Dzmitry Rak's health last was "unfortunately".

"Unfortunately, I haven't met with him or talked to him for a long time...I am busy, we are getting prepared for the serious events. Probably, I should have called and asked how he is more often...", - the freestyling national team's coach Anatol Pastukhou gets confused. 

Alyaksej Hryshyn also visits Dzmitry Rak rarely:

"Unfortunately, I can't see him often. First, I am always on the road. Secondly - it is unbearable to see him in a condition like this. Psychologically, this is very difficult. We talked on the phone and I can say that.. He doesn't feel well at all".

According to Hryshyn, Dzmitry Rak's story makes a hard and terrifying impression on the young sportsmen:

Alyaksej Hryshyn: "Sadly, but this is how it happens here. I don't know what the officials think about. They realize that there are sportsmen all around. Those who deal with professional sports understand it. They do understand that, God saves, but things like this can happen to anyone. And they will get the same attitude then...You know how it happens - while a balalaika is playing everything is good. But when a string breaks, they put the instrument aside and take a new one…

For example, I have a problem with my back now. When I addressed to the Ministry of Sports and Tourism for the last time asking to send me to the Narach lake for treatment, they told me approximately the following: "You get salary, so you can buy medicines and pay for the treatment yourself".

According to Anatol Pastukhou, some help from the state indeed goes to Dzmitry Rak. He saw the corresponding documents in Autumn last time. 

Dzmitry Rak was a member of the Belarusian freestyling national team in 1994-2007, participated in two Olympic games (2002, 2006) and two World Cups. He was one of the top 10 freestylers of the world. Dzmitry Rak was severely injured on December 10, 2006 during the World Cup stage in China. The doctors stated a hemorrhagic stroke. Dzmitry was in coma for a long time. 

Photo: Interfax.by.