Magda Rataj was looking for just one person who could accompany her to the Halsey concert at the Open’er festival. Her post in the fan group unexpectedly went viral — thousands of people responded, ready to help.
She bought a ticket to the festival back in May — dreaming of seeing her favorite artist perform. But later, plans fell through: the person who was supposed to go with her backed out.
Magda lost her sight when she was almost 12 years old. In her post, she described the situation: she is blind, finds it difficult to navigate crowds and unfamiliar spaces, so she needs an escort. Moreover, such assistance does not require special skills.
“My disability means that I usually cannot leave the house on my own, let alone go to a large festival by myself. That’s why I need help from other people,” Magda told the publication “Fakt”
The post quickly spread across the internet. People not only offered help — many admitted that the story restored their faith in others.
The first to respond were two girls, followed by others. Eventually, a group was formed in Messenger, where several dozen people are now planning to spend the second day of the festival with Magda. Notably, almost none of them knew each other beforehand.
“The people who offered help are completely unknown to me. Before our correspondence in the comments and then in Messenger, we had no contact at all,” says Magda.
What touched her the most were not the offers themselves, but the reactions of random readers. Some wrote that they would save this post for difficult days, while others admitted they cried reading the comments.
Magda works as a Braille instructor in Gdynia, is finishing her bachelor’s degree in pedagogy, and runs a blog. According to her, people often lack knowledge about how to properly assist the blind, although it is actually not difficult at all.
“A blind person simply takes your arm just above the elbow and walks half a step behind. It’s enough to warn about steps, curbs, or changes in direction. It really isn’t hard,” she explains.
In her opinion, people most often hesitate to help due to uncertainty: “Don’t be afraid to ask. A blind person will indicate what help is needed. The main thing is the willingness to help.”
Halsey’s creativity has long been close to Magda: it touches on themes of identity, mental health, and self-acceptance. After difficult months of studying and working on her thesis, the concert was supposed to be a moment of respite for her.
“This story showed me that it’s enough to just talk about your needs, not to be afraid, and to remain open. Even if one door closes, much wider ones can open nearby,” says Magda.
