On December 4, 2017, the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland hosted a number of disabled overachievers as the 15th annual award ceremony of the ‘People Without Barriers’ contest was held. The event was attended by the Polish First Lady, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, who has assumed the honorary patronage over the contest for the third consecutive time.
The ‘Woman Without Barriers 2017’ award went to Mrs. Bogumila Czerniawska from Pisz, Poland. Despite her physical disability, she has been able to create a foster family for six children. A special prize was given to Iwona Cichosz – the first ever in Poland certified deaf sign language interpreter and winner of the Miss Deaf International 2016 title. The ‘Person Without Barriers of The Last 15 Years’ went to Janina Ochojska, the great charity worker, head of the Polish Humanitarian Action foundation and a polio victim. The winner of the audience award was Judyta Bork – the creator of the ‘Bazaar In Aid Of Hospice Patients’ profile on Facebook. Also, the renowned blind jazz pianist, composer and arranger Janusz Skowron (who later performed at the ceremony) received the ‘Gloria Artis’ medal for contribution to the Polish culture awarded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Poland.
Vlodi Tafel’s acceptance speech
Drummer Vlodi Tafel among those honoured
Why are we mentioning all this? Because one of those honoured was a drummer named Vlodi Tafel. He was awarded his ‘Man Without Barriers’ statuette for “constantly proving with his life’s work and attitude that what seems impossible to others may become and becomes reality”. Our most sincere congratulations to Vlodi!
As a teenager, Vlodi Tafel was diagnosed with bone cancer and underwent an amputation surgery of his left leg. Forced to give up playing soccer, he resolved to devote all his time and energy to the other love of his life – music. Thanks to his persistence, he was admitted to the F. Chopin Music School in Warsaw, Poland. Two years later, he started to study drums at the Jazz Dept. there, which he finished with flying colours, earning his degree andthe title: „Musician – Drummer”.
Vlodi Tafel with the First Lady, Agata Kornahauser-Duda
Vlodi Tafel is the only professional working drummer in Poland, possibly the only one in the world, who plays drums using a full prosthesis for his leg. He has done live and studio work for such renowned Polish bands and artists as: Futurobnia, Apteka, Róże Europy, Mr. Gil, Believe, Anita Lipnicka, Patrycja Markowska, Zbigniew Wodecki, Robert Chojnacki, Marek Kościkiewicz, oldBreakout.
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