03.08.2026
When you hear the term technology company, most people imagine servers, data centers, precision engineering, and a world of ones and zeros. But at Altron, we know that the most important element, even in the most modern world, remains the human being.
That is precisely why we once again supported the charity challenge 8 Days for Palliative Care, organized by the Domesticiassociation. The driving force and founder is Martin Souček, who served as the CEO of our company until the spring of 2022. When he decided to embark on a new life path and help where it is needed most, it was completely natural for us to join him.
This year, Martin once again hopped on a pink tandem bike to cover over 1,000 kilometers across the Czech Republic in eight days. In the saddle, he took turns with people who have gone through the most difficult stage of life, caring for their loved ones at home during their final days.
Palliative care is still surrounded by many myths in our society. People often associate it exclusively with passing away, but the reality is much more diverse. It is a medical field whose purpose is to ensure dignity and quality of life for patients until the very last second. It does not just address the body; it looks at the person as a whole. It combines care for physical health and pain relief, psychological support, spiritual needs and social support for the whole family.
The palliative care team doesn't just include doctors and nurses, but also social workers, psychologists, and chaplains. They are here to ensure that no one has to face the end of life alone, and to help people live with dignity during this final phase.
This year's route connected eight mobile hospices. Each daily stage covered around 100 kilometers. Through rain, wind, heat, and the challenging terrain of the Vysočina region, the riders often pushed themselves to their absolute limits.
This physical struggle served as a profound parallel to what those caring for the terminally ill experience. They, too, are on a long, exhausting journey with no clear finish line in sight. And just like on a tandem bike, it helps to have someone by your side to help you keep pedaling when your own strength begins to fade.
Over the course of eight days, people with powerful personal stories took turns in the saddle. Among them was Ondřej, who, with the support of a hospice, cared for his mother. Klaudia, who looked after her grandfather. Or Vítek, whose experience caring for a dying friend changed his values so much that he now works in a hospice himself as a nurse. You can read the stories of all eight heroes who rode the tandem bike with Martin Souček this year directly on the event website.
The challenge also carried a powerful legacy from the previous year. Back then, the route was completed by palliative patient Zorka Šťastná. This year, Zorka was no longer with us. She passed away at home in February, surrounded by her family. However, her daughter Bára continued the ride and celebrated her 18th birthday at the finish line, which symbolically coincided with the 18th anniversary of the Good Shepherd Hospice in Čerčany. Her sister Veronika and her grandmother (Zorka’s mother) also came to support her.
At Altron, we believe that a partnership should be about more than just a logo on a poster. We have been supporting the Domestici association for a long time, and this year was no exception. Before the challenge started, we presented Martin Souček with a check for 200,000 CZK, this time handed over by our founder, Milivoj Uzelac. But that was just the beginning.
The day before the challenge officially began, we held our ALTRON Family Festival—a celebration of Altron’s 35th anniversary, which we hosted in a family spirit for the first time, including our colleagues' relatives. Furthermore, an additional amount was raised during the charity raffle: 20,000 CZK, which went directly to support the Domestici project.
We also got actively involved in the event ourselves. We formed our own 199-member team, which collected kilometers and minutes of activity remotely. Although we set ambitious internal sports goals that we didn't quite manage to reach, what mattered most was the enthusiasm and the time spent for a good cause.
Our people also supported the challenge out in the field. Colleagues Jana Nerušilová and Lenka Sedláčková took care of the logistics and support for the peloton. At a stop before Říčany, our colleague Karel Šebelík put on a jersey and joined the ride. For the final stage from Mělník to Čerčany, Richard Most, František Pazdera, and Milivoj Uzelac joined the peloton.
At the finish line in Čerčany, Milivoj received a clock from Martin Souček. It served as a reminder of the time we are given and the value it holds when we are able to live it to the fullest and with quality.
Thanks to the tremendous support from the public, the original goal of raising 2 million CZK was exceeded. A total of an amazing 2,221,680 CZKwas raised!
The fundraiser involved 1,220 donors, 941 of whom also participated through active movement. People formed 116 teams, logged over 3,300 sports activities, and spent a combined 4,745 hours moving. The average donation per person exceeded one thousand CZK.
I am absolutely thrilled. Not only did we manage to meet our quite ambitious goal of raising two million crowns for hospices, but we even exceeded it. At the end of each day, we arrived at a hospice that was supporting people through a difficult time in their lives—it was truly amazing. I am so glad that we were able to provide such significant help to these people who do such great work for us and our loved ones, adds Martin Souček regarding the success of the entire event.
The Domestici are definitely keeping the momentum going. While this year's funds are going directly to the eight participating mobile hospices, the team is already planning their next steps. Throughout the summer, you will see the Domestici acting as charity partners and providing direct support to athletes at events such as Race Across Czechia, Lipno Sport Festival, Road Classics or IRONMAN. In the autumn, film screenings and discussions for the public and schools will start up again.
Palliative care is not an abstract concept. It is concrete help for a specific family. Although it is still not widely known in society, we never know in advance when we or our loved ones might need this support. A huge thank you therefore goes to everyone who pedaled along with us this year.
You can get involved in supporting mobile hospices and the activities of the Domestici association at any time throughout the year; you don't have to wait for the next edition of the eight-day challenge. More information about year-round support options can be found on the Domestici website.
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