The Urszula Smok “Give Life” Foundation, together with friends, is organizing the first event in southern Poland promoting physical activity among oncology patients and bone marrow transplant recipients. The event, scheduled for November 17, is dedicated to the memory of coach Franciszek Smuda, who worked with OnkoSport on organizing this initiative. Wisła Kraków has become a partner.

The “Get Out for Health” event will be held at Active Academy in Giebułtów, where Franciszek Smuda exercised under the supervision of specialists and physiotherapists. The coach wanted to show other patients how he returned to physical activity after treatment. He believed that regular physical activity has extraordinary power and improves quality of life. Coach Franciszek Smuda wanted to share his knowledge and experience with other patients.

Participants will include bone marrow transplant recipients, oncology patients, and their loved ones. The guest of honor will be Ms. Małgorzata Drewniak-Smuda, the coach’s wife. Specialists, including physiotherapists and a doctor, as well as Mr. Franciszek’s friends and invited guests, will take part in the event—including Grzegorz Urbańczyk, a Polish rowing representative. Representatives of Wisła Kraków will also be present.

“Together with Mr. Franciszek Smuda—a legend of sport—we wanted, as bone marrow transplant recipients, to get oncology patients moving. From our own experience, we know how important and necessary regular physical activity is. What I started with Mr. Franciszek, I am now continuing with his friends. OnkoSport is a rising star in the field of oncology,” said Urszula Smok, President of the “Give Life” Foundation.

“Franek was involved in sport, particularly football, for most of his life. Over time, as a coach, he devoted more attention to conducting training sessions than to his own physical activity, which was also related to the effects of the numerous injuries he sustained as an active footballer.
He was a patient who followed medical advice, and as soon as he was advised to exercise, he approached it professionally. He went to Activ Academy Giebułtów, where he trained diligently under the supervision of specialists. Returning to physical activity helped him not only improve his overall fitness, but above all acted as an excellent form of psychological therapy: it gave him emotional strength and reinforced his motivation to continue the difficult fight against the disease,” added Franciszek Smuda’s wife, Małgorzata Drewniak-Smuda.

OnkoSport activities include:
- free weekly fitness classes at My Fitness Place, os. Na Lotnisku 3. We have ensured comfortable meetings and exercise in suitable conditions. The classes are led by a fitness instructor who works as a physiotherapist caring for oncology patients on a daily basis;
- the “Get Out for Health” event, organized at the facility where Franciszek Smuda exercised under the supervision of specialists and physiotherapists;
- several-day sports trips to the seaside. Two such trips have taken place so far, in September 2023 and 2024.

From 2012 to 2015, the Foundation organized the “A Handbag and Tie Packed with Goodness” campaign, which included charity auctions of items donated by well-known and respected individuals. The proceeds were used to support families affected by cancer. Franciszek Smuda and Jakub Błaszczykowski took part in the event at that time, donating their ties.

The public task is co-financed by the City of Kraków