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Clown and doctor, founder of hospital clownery Hunter Doherty Adams known around the world as Patch Adams will arrive in Armenia on May 18. The idea of his visit to Armenia was discussed with entrepreneur and philanthropist, Co-Founder of Initiatives for Development of Armenia (IDeA) Foundation Ruben Vardanyan, and the visit is organized by the IDeA Foundation in cooperation with relevant government agencies and various social and medical institutions.

Patch Adams is a professional doctor, social innovator and a clown, one of the founders of laughter therapy and hospital clownery in the world.

His charity and innovative projects and clownery performances are known worldwide. Oscar-winning comedian Robin Williams played Adams in “Patch Adams” film shot in 1998.

In early 1970s, Adam opened Gesundheit! Institute (German for “Good health!”), which operates as a medical-environmental institution and provides free medical care.

With a group of hospital clowns Adams annually pays around nine visits to various countries. Equipped with colorful clothing they organize performances in hospitals, orphanages, homes for the elderly and boarding schools. Owing to his performances, the children manage to quickly overcome the effects of complicated and aggressive therapies. The ideas and initiatives of Patch Adams are contagious, and his practice is known globally and is successfully employed in many places.

He is convinced that laughter helps the sick physically as well. “Take, for example cancer. It has been proved that laughter helps increase the number of “soldier-cells,” which destroy cancer cells. Laughter boosts the immune system and releases endorphins. In short, being happy is the best cure of all diseases,” he said in one of his interviews.

During his one-week visit to Armenia Patch Adams and his group of hospital clowns (he will be accompanied by the clowns of Russia-based Maria's Children Art Center) will pay a visit to orphanages and children’s hospitals in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Dilijan and will perform a unique program.

In addition, he will deliver a lecture at the American University of Armenia (AUA) and Yerevan State Medical University named after Mkhitar Heratsi, reports the PR Department of Initiatives for Development of Armenia (IDeA) Foundation.