Family of recently deceased journalist Marina Kovačev donated funds to the Health Center in Bečej for the purchase of medical equipment, and plans other donations to local community.

Marina Kovačev, a 29-year-old Bečej native, passed away this spring, during her treatment in Istanbul from the consequences of brain tumor. Marina was able to receive treatment abroad with the means raised through public donations to her family, as well as donations to the “Be Humane” Foundation (Fondacija “Budi human”).

Although, the treatment was ultimately unsuccessful, Marina’s family could not overlook the kindness of those who donated funds for her treatment abroad. This is why they decided that “this money ought to continue its humane mission”, as Marina’s mother Svetlana Bošković has pointed out.

The first donation from Marina’s family was made to the Health Center Bečej (Dom zdravlja Bečej) for the purchase of an anechoic chamber, which allows determining the level of hearing loss, detecting various neurodegenerative diseases or the possibility of a tumor.

“We thought the means collected for her treatment (…) ought to remain, in some way, in the municipality of Bečej (…) This is why we decided to approach the management of the Health Center and their specialist services, so that they could decide which aids would contribute the most towards the health of the citizens, early detection of health issues, as well as to make sure the largest number of patients can be helped in some way”, said Bošković.

The family will use the money to start a foundation in Marina’s name, which will support different local nonprofits and causes in Bečej. One of the recipients will be the Youth Association of Bečej (Bečejsko udruženje mladih), which Marina founded with her friends. The funds will also be used for the annual journalism award, given by the Novi Sad School of Journalism (Novosadska novinarska škola), where Marina used to work at. The memory of Marina will also live on through this award, as it now carries her name.