Polish influencer Patryk “Łatwogang” Garkowski concluded a nine-day livestream fundraiser, collecting over 251 million złoty (approximately $61.5 million USD) for the Cancer Fighters Foundation.
Fundraiser Exceeds Expectations
The fundraiser for the Cancer Fighters Foundation surpassed 250 million złoty before 10 PM local time. Łatwogang proposed designating April 26th as a national day to fight childhood cancer, suggesting annual celebrations.
Łatwogang emphasized that the success was due to the public’s generosity, not his individual efforts, stating that the children battling cancer are the true heroes.
Foundation Acknowledges Responsibility
The Cancer Fighters Foundation expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, acknowledging the significant trust placed in the organization and the immense responsibility that comes with the substantial funds raised.
Three-Pillar Action Plan
The foundation outlined a three-pronged approach to utilizing the funds: immediate assistance to current patients, systemic support for clinics, and complete transparency in spending. Analysis of urgent needs will begin Monday.
Support will extend to those requiring prosthetics and assistance reintegrating into normal life after treatment. A website detailing expenditures will be launched soon.
Transparency and Collaboration
The foundation is initiating discussions with clinics across Poland to identify areas where aid will have the greatest impact, ranging from equipment upgrades to larger systemic projects. All actions will be conducted openly and systematically.
A dedicated website will provide a step-by-step account of how the funds are used and their resulting impact. An advisory board of experts will be established to guide decision-making and fund distribution.
A New Scale of Operation
The foundation stated that this campaign marks a new level of operational capacity, enabling broader assistance to patients, clinics, and facilities throughout Poland. They pledged to demonstrate how the funds are being used.
The foundation emphasized that this is not an end, but a beginning, and they will continue their work.
Record-Breaking Livestream
The fundraiser achieved a world record for the largest amount raised during a live charity stream, with over 1.4 million viewers during the final minutes. The stream was originally scheduled to end Sunday at 4 PM but was extended multiple times.
Nine-Day Livestream Format
The nine-day livestream, which began on April 17th, featured appearances from numerous celebrities, artists, athletes, and influencers, both online and in person at Łatwogang’s Warsaw apartment.
Participants included Doda, Robert Lewandowski, Adam Małysz, Cezary Pazura, and Roksana Węgiel. Several stars shaved their heads in solidarity with children battling cancer.
Engaging Livestream Content
The livestream featured a variety of engaging content, including a performance by Roksana Węgiel with Andziaks, a tattoo created based on a patient’s artwork, a reconciliation between rappers Tede and Pei, and a scene reenactment by Małgorzata Kożuchowska.
Inspired by a Diss Track
The charity drive was sparked by the release of Bedoes’ song “Ciągle tutaj jestem (diss na raka)” featuring Maja Mecan, a Cancer Fighters Foundation patient, raising awareness of childhood cancer. Łatwogang then challenged his followers to determine the stream’s duration based on TikTok likes.
Comparable to Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy
The amount raised nearly matched the total collected by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity this year, which raised 263,477,929.83 złoty during its 34th Finale.