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The Winner of the 2003 International Person with MS of the Year was Egon Hirt from Germany.
Egon Hirt
In 1977 Egon Hirt (born 1936) was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, first symptoms already appeared in 1969. Today he is a wheel chair user. His state of health became worse more and more and, finally, at the age of 43 years old he became a pensioner. The time after the diagnosis was very hard for Egon and his wife.
In 1983 he took courage again and decided to "stay actively" instead of his serious disease. To "stay actively" has become his motto. The taking over of the self-help group Schwarzwald-Baar of the AMSEL (chapter of the German MS society in Baden-Württemberg) was the first sign of his regained will. At this time the self-help group had 120 members.
Egon Hirt has enabled the following:
- 1983: First recreational trip for people with MS. 16 persons with MS facing moderate and severe levels of disability attended
- 1984: Employment of the first persons doing community service (there were max. 33, today there are 13)
- Procuring of donations in order to finance a handicapped accessible vehicle (today 15 vehicles are used)
- 1988: establishment of a flat share for 5 persons with MS
- Relieving measures for caring relatives
- Meetings, information and common projects
Due to his engagement, his example and that what he has enabled in the Schwarzwald-Baar district Egon Hirt succeeded at the end of the 1980s in gaining the royal family Fürstenberg for the needs of persons with MS. Princess Maximiliane zu Fürstenberg became the Patroness of the self help group. Common projects have improved the quality of life of the people with MS.
Thus, in 1989 the Parkrestaurant opened. This restaurant has been known as "AMSEL meeting place" from that time on and has offered short time caring opportunities for people with MS. In 1991 the first party with rock and reggae music for the benefit of the AMSEL took place in the Parkrestaurant under the leadership of its lessee, Mr. Tobias Parthie.
In the same year the Interessengemeinschaft Multiple Sklerose Erkrankter Donaueschingen - IMSED (community of interests for people with MS in Donaueschingen) was established. Egon Hirt became its President.
In 1994 the house "Antonius" in Donaueschingen, Germany was set up. This house offers a home for 18 persons with MS. Today the house "Antonius" consists of three houses with 24 wheelchair accessible single flats, which can be furnished individually. Furthermore, there are community rooms in order to support the household community, therapy rooms and a caring and supplying service. Additionally, caring a person with MS while his/her carers are on holiday is also offered.
In 1992 the AMSEL self help group received the donation award of the Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung due to their exemplary help for self help. This awards proves the outstanding work of Egon Hirt and the AMSEL self help group Schwarzwald-Baar on regional and federal level.
Apart from "managing" several and various projects of the self help group Egon Hirt also played an important role in the Board of the AMSEL, chapter of the German MS society in Baden-Württemberg. Thus, he decisively has contributed to the development of this chapter.
The special achievements of Egon Hirt are:
- Integration of as many persons as possible of the 220 persons with MS into the activities of the AMSEL self help group.
- 3-5 recreational trips per year for people with MS.
- Wheelchair users and persons with MS facing a severe level of disability are joining these trips and are cared by volunteers and full-time employees.
- Intensive relief for caring relatives thanks to local community services and leisure time activities of the AMSEL-self help group.
- To enable persons with MS facing a severe level of disability to be supported at home thanks to persons doing community service or to live an individual and independent life (as for example in the house Antonius) which would not have been possible that way in a nursing home.
- Co-operative and constructive local cooperation with authorities and administration..
Egon Hirt´s disability also is severe. He needs full time care, too. His example, his ability to manage the AMSEL-self help group and to be available with his human warmth and personal sympathy for each person with MS impresses every one who gets to know him.
His energy and persuasive power instead of his serious decease are a motivation for other people to become committed to the needs of people with MS in the Schwarzwald-Baar district, too. On the occasion of the official opening of the house "Antonius" Princess Maximiliane zu Fürstenberg named him "the soul of the house" and thanked him for "your untiring work, friendship and closeness between sick and healthy people."
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