A Polish social media influencer has raised over £50 million by streaming nonstop for nine days, proving that the best way to fight childhood cancer is with a rap diss track and a parade of celebrities.
Piotr Garkowski, 23, known as Łatwogang, streamed from a studio flat in right-bank Warsaw. His endurance test involved listening to a charity song on loop for nine straight days, while filling time with dares and appearances from Poland's top musicians, actors, athletes, and influencers.
The song, 'I'm still here', was recorded by Polish rapper Bedoes 2115 with 11-year-old Maja Mecan, who is battling her third cancer relapse. Written as a rap diss track, it aims its insults not at a rival but at cancer itself. 'If you suffer from cancer just like me, this song is for you. I’m Maja and this is my third relapse, and I have reasons to diss you,' she says. The chorus repeats: 'I’m still here/Did you think you had me?/I’m still here/We laugh in your face/I’m still here/And I’m not going anywhere.'
Garkowski, previously known for recording a Polish version of Ed Sheeran's 'Azizam', hosted a parade of guests who recreated their biggest viral hits. Coldplay's Chris Martin sent a video of himself performing an improvised keyboard song featuring the Polish word for 'pushing' the fundraising total further, apologizing for his Polish.
At just past 3am, Russian-born Polish speed skater Vladimir Semirunniy donated his silver medal from the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics 10,000m event, then shaved his head in solidarity, as did many others. Poland and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski danced to the song on TikTok and donated over £200,000. His teammate, ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, recorded a video with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. Six-time tennis grand slam champion Iga Świątek donated over £20,000 and two tickets to her Wimbledon match.
Despite an initial goal of just 500,000 złoty (£102,000), the stream is among the highest-ever fundraising events on YouTube. As of Monday morning, the total topped 257 million złoty (£52.5 million), with over 1.5 million people watching the finale live on Sunday night. On Monday, Łatwogang and Bedoes 2115 thanked supporters on Instagram, saying, 'We ask the media … to publicise the fundraiser and the awareness that cancer is not a death sentence.' The money will support the Cancer Fighters foundation, with every penny publicly accounted for on a special website.