Good deeds are a blessing. They are especially so where they are urgently needed and wanted.
– Poeteus –
In memory of a wonderful person – Elke – we want to fulfill her dream of establishing a foundation and helping people in need around the world through numerous charitable projects, bringing smiles to their faces.
Founding Story
How did the idea for the ELKE SCHARK FOUNDATION come about?
I have had countless experiences in my life, but the worst day was the diagnosis of my beloved Elke in early June 2022: terminal lung cancer. A world collapsed for me and our two sons, Raphael and Christopher. It was a journey of support, hope, and saying goodbye. On October 4, 2023, after 38 years together, my great love passed away surrounded by her family and her beloved friend Karina. She left us with so much, above all, faith in a future, a reunion, and not to fear death. She didn’t want a funeral service, but rather a farewell party by the sea, on the Lido di Ostia, near our beloved city of Rome. My promise to Elke was that I would “carry some of her ashes on foot to Rome” to reflect and find my own farewell in silence.
On June 1, 2024, I set off from Carinthia and, over 39 days of hiking (one day for each year we had together), covered more than 1,000 km and 18,000 meters of elevation gain to Rome and on to Frascati. During daily hikes, sometimes lasting up to 10 hours, I became aware of many things. As a palliative care nurse, Elke spent most of her life dealing with death. She accompanied countless people on their final journey, easing their fear and pain. She also worked with people with dementia and the homeless, supported social projects, and had absolutely no fear of contact. Elke conveyed feeling and love to people. She was a truly wonderful soul. Our shared plan was always to implement social projects on a larger scale. Along my journey, I felt that now was the time to fulfill her wish “as a token of gratitude and remembrance” by establishing a charitable foundation.
My dearest love, I hope that from where you are now, you can see the significance your life has had for us and the significance it will have for many people around the world in the future.
With love and remembrance
Bernhard
Elke Schark
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Bernhard Mailinger
Entrepreneur
Managing Director of various companies in Germany, Austria, and Slovakia
Born: 1965, Austrian citizen
Sebastian Oberwalder
Attorney at Law (German Law / European Law)
Managing Director of various companies in Germany, Austria, and Slovakia
Born: 1978, Austrian citizen
Kurt Schnider
Certified Public Accountant and lic. oec. HSG
Trustee Zovag SRC GmbH, CH-Widnau
Born: 1962, Swiss citizen
FAREWELL TO ELKE
The Farewell
After Elke’s diagnosis of terminal lung cancer in early June 2022, we had a little time to discuss many things before her passing. Elke wasn’t afraid of death at all; she was only sad that she would have to leave her children, her beloved grandson Lauri, and me far too soon. Having dealt with death for decades and helped many people overcome their fear of it, this final journey was very familiar to her. Her wish was to die without painkillers, so that she could face death with an open mind and without feeling dazed.
Since Elke saw death as a transition to another consciousness, and because we will all meet again, she didn’t want a funeral, nor any sadness or tears. She wanted her body cremated and a “farewell celebration with family and friends by the sea, at Lido di Ostia, near our beloved city of Rome.” We were to scatter some of her ashes at sea on this occasion.
On October 4, 2023, my great love, after almost 39 years together, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and her beloved friend Karina.
The Hike
My hike to Rome with some of the ashes (link to the diary)