In the spotlight: Jurek Owsiak

What started in 1993 as a spontaneous action to help children's cardio-surgeons (and which equipped all children's hospital in the country), quickly transformed into an annual one-day event with concerts all over Poland and volunteers collecting money for children's medicine and treatment.

This year the Orchestra played for the 14th time, and was collecting funds for medical equipment to save the lives of children who suffered in accidents. The cash will also be used to fund first-aid courses and equipment. The first 13 events helped the Orchestra buy medical equipment worth over $60 million (zł.188.9 million).

The Orchestra is the brainchild of Jurek Owsiak, a charismatic ex-radio journalist and DJ. He gained popularity among young people in the late 1980s hosting a number of rock music auditions. He then hosted a popular music TV program, Róbta Co Chceta (Do Whatever You Want).

Owsiak is still heavily criticized by some religious organizations, especially those associated with Radio Maryja, for spreading this slogan, and on a number of occasions there was opposition from local church authorities to his undertakings, such as the WOŒP and Przystanek Woodstock. The latter is Owsiak's other major project, as every summer he organizes one of the largest open-air festivals in Europe, which attracts hundreds of thousands of rock fans from all over Poland.