Polish influencer’s 9-day livestream raises $67 million for kids with cancer
Warsaw: A 23-year-old Polish influencer has wrapped one of the highest-grossing fundraisers in YouTube history, pulling in $67 million for childhood cancer patients and their families after a 9-day livestream marathon.
The event, hosted by Warsaw-based creator Łatwogang, blew past its original goal by more than 50 times. Momentum built through a string of celebrity appearances, including Polish sports stars and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Streaming from Warsaw, Łatwogang played a single track on repeat for nine days straight: a Polish rap diss aimed at cancer itself. The song was written by rapper Bedoes 2115 and features 11-year-old cancer patient Maja, who is experiencing her third relapse. That didn’t stop Maja from recording the chorus, where she tells her cancer she’s “still here… laughing in your face.”
Between playbacks, celebrities joined the stream. Robert Lewandowski, widely regarded as Poland’s greatest footballer, posted a video singing along before announcing a donation of about $250,000. His Poland and Barcelona teammate Wojciech Szczęsny also recorded a video of support.
Six-time Grand Slam champion and Warsaw native Iga Świątek pledged a cash donation and two tickets to her upcoming Wimbledon match. Vladimir Semirunniy, who took silver for Poland in the Men’s 10,000-meter speed skating at this year’s Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, donated his medal to the fundraiser and shaved his head in solidarity with Maja and other children who appeared during the stream.
