Olympics Silver Medalist Maria Andrejczyk Auctions Medal to Help Fund Infant’s Treatment

• Andrejczyk says the value of a medal lies in the heart, and it's better for her silver to 'save lives than gather dust in a closet'
• She is a bone cancer survivor after making a remarkable recovery after initial diagnosis in 2018
• At the Rio Olympics in 2016, the Polish javelin thrower emerged fourth and did not walk away with any medal

Silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics Maria Andrejczyk earned plaudits from fans on social media after she decided to put auction her medal to help fund a child’s surgery.

The 25-year old took to her Facebook page to announce her decision to help a boy identified as Miloszek.

“Miloszek has a serious heart defect. He needs an operation,” she said in her post.

"He already has a head start from Kubus — a boy who didn’t make it in time but whose amazing parents decided to pass on the funds they collected.

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"And in this way, I also want to help. It’s for him that I am auctioning my Olympic silver medal.”

The infant in question suffers from a rare combination of heart and venous problems, a condition that restricts the pulmonary veins from functioning properly.

Andrejczyk is herself a cancer survivor, having initially been diagnosed in 2018.

It was a harrowing time for her as she was also battling a recurring shoulder injury which played a role in her fourth-place finish in Rio 2016.

According to The Mirror, Miloszek's donation page is seeking to raise 1.5million Polish zloty, which translates to R5 756 925.

Andrejczyk is hoping the auction of her medal would help half that amount.

On Monday, August 16, the javelin star announced Polish convenience store Zabka won the auction, and their donation of £140,000 (KSh 21 million) and other contributions surpassing what she initially hoped for.

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As of Tuesday morning, donations had reached the 90% mark.

“An easy decision”

Andrejczyk had announced immediately after the games that she planned to sell the medal and the proceeds would then go towards a good cause.

"This silver can save lives, instead of collecting dust in a closet. That is why I decided to auction it to help sick children,” she said as per the Times.

Top 3 moments in the Olympics for Team South Africa

Briefly News previously reported that the Tokyo Olympics were a bit of a bummer this time around with Team South Africa only collecting a few medals in the process. Even though some didn't win medals, the nation is proud of them.

Briefly News takes a look at the top four highlights for South Africa in the Games. Tatjana Schoenmaker, the young swimmer made South Africa extremely proud with her skills in the pool.

Schoenmaker was definitely a person to watch and she broke two Olympic records in the process. The beautiful lady went home with a silver medal and later a gold medal, which was definitely a highlight.

Source: Briefly News