To find my beloved brother & other missing people

Christopher Kozek is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hello, my name is Christopher Kozek. I want to ask for your help. My beloved and only brother, Michal Kozek has been reported missing in Madeira, Portugal, since 07.07.2021.

He went for a run from Porto Moniz to Calheta, being driven by a local taxi and dropped off in the Porto Moniz Municipal office, around 19:15.

He was supposed to come back to the hotel (Savoy Saccacharum in Calheta), but he never came back there where his wife and two kids were waiting for him.

His wife informed me about that in the next morning. Before that, she went to the local police in Calheta and informed them about my brother's disappearance.

I joined the search and rescue, flying from Switzerland, but before that, I informed the Polish Embassy (we are Swiss residents, but were born and raised in Poland). I was in touch with the commander from the local Civil Protection office, who informed me every hour about the actions that the services on the ground were taking.

I flew in from Zurich to Madeira, Portugal, and joined the search, however till now he has not been found. We all tried our best, and a lot of people with golden hearts helped, as well as the friends and family of Michael.

I came back and forth to the Island many times, got trained for the search and rescue, and learned how to use the rope techniques, climbing gears, etc. In the meantime, I was trying to help find other missing people in Madeira with certain successes but Michal was and still is my main focus. He is still missing and till I find him I am not gonna give up on him.

I realized that I didn’t want to give up when I was in the last rescue action in Madeira for the French couple who we found dead and talked to the local police and GNR officers. They said that unless the body is found, the person might still be alive and for certain is still missing.

I believe that Michal could get lost, wake up unconscious, with loss of memory (there were situations like this on the Island). I have new information about the terrain that I gathered recently. I am also aware that I might be only searching for his remains.

Many people think that I should have already given up on Michael and stopped the search (including his closest family). I believe that someone has to do it and I am not giving up on him like many others did. For me, it was always a matter of finding him alive, but I am aware that the time has passed and I am more realistic at the moment.

I used all the money I had, including a loan, three credit cards, etc... So far the search cost me more than 200’000 USD but it is not about the money, although without them I cannot do much. Thankfully I am still working and earning in Switzerland.

Michael was always saying that brother love is brother love. I fully agree with him, and I miss him dearly.

I am aiming to go back to the Island to find my brother but I need your support. I spent all my savings on the previous search and recently maxed up my credit card and cannot afford this at the moment.

The funds will be spent only on the Search and Rescue action, for Michal and other people who are missing on the Island. This is because you never know who you will find at the bottom of the cliff.

What I need to buy again is:

one professional drone
transport: car rental/ taxi, fuel
food, supplements for the local team who wants to join me
professional climbing gear: at least one 200-meter rope, one 100-meter rope, delta, ascender, carabiners, helmet, camera (maybe can be rented). All the climbing gear needs to be new as you never know about the history of the gear and no one rents that stuff because of the safety precautions
I used to have all the equipment but recently I have donated it to the local forces who need it daily as I know how much they have done to find my brother
etc.