The former Romanian international football player Mihai Neșu has paid a visit to the Holy Mount Athos that concluded Sunday, July 8.
A Facebook fan page dedicated to Mihai Neșu and his charitable work posted a picture on July 4 of football players Pantelis Kapetanos, George Ogăraru, and Mihai Neșu. The post included the message saying, ‘Early in the morning, with great joy, towards Mount Athos!’
Nesu’s career ended abruptly in June 2011 at the age of 28. He fractured his cervical vertebra when a teammate fell on top of him during training.
Now partially-paralysed, he can only use his right arm and shoulders. He moves around with a custom-made wheelchair.
During his rehabilitation process in the Netherlands and the USA, he met various children with disabilities and chronic diseases and decided to establish a foundation to help children in his home country. “When you are disabled in Romania, there is nothing for you,” he said.
The Mihai Nesu Foundation has got its own recovery centre in Oradea, which has given therapy to more than 130 children since its creation.
Nesu, who won 3 Romanian league championships with Steaua Bucharest and made 5 appearances for Romania’s national team, received the FIFPro Merit Award in 2017.
A special hero! Disabled former Romanian ?? international footballer Mihai Nesu received the FIFPro Merit Award for his work with disabled children ??https://t.co/jGSfDdaCAY pic.twitter.com/R2DbbuFGde
— FIFPro (@FIFPro) 11 decembrie 2017
“It shows that what we are doing is very important; working together with the children every day for a better life and a better health.”
The 34-year old Nesu himself is undergoing treatment with the 60 children who are currently at his centre.
“He knows all children and their problems, and the kids are happy to have Mihai around,” said Emilian Hulubei, President of the Romanian player union who collected the award on behalf of Nesu during the FIFPro general assembly in Cairo.
“We consider Mihai as an example for all of us,” Hulubei added. “He is trying to make the best out of a very negative event and has brought a smile upon many children’s faces.”
More information about the Mihai Nesu Foundation:
Website: http://www.fundatiamihainesu.ro/
E-mail: [email protected]
Donations:
IBAN RO63BTRLRONCRT0246793101 (RON)
IBAN RO13BTRLEURCRT0246793101 (EUR)
IBAN RO17BTRLUSDCRT0246793101 (USD)
