Selflessness is often a difficult act for many reasons–perhaps the biggest being the fact that mankind needs to fulfill its own desires. Sometimes it’s done out of impulse and other times, necessity.
It’s sometimes even hard to put those things aside because we all need something at some point in our lives. The lengths in which we will go to achieve personal success and comfort or that of others, however, can often only be measured by the size of our heart.
Olympic gold medalist Piotr Malachowski recently made national headlines when he announced on social media that he was selling his newly-won silver medal to pay for a young boy’s cancer treatment. Malachowski captured the medal in Rio for his performance in this year’s discus completion.
The boy he’s helping, three-year-old Olek, was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer last year when he turned two. The cancer has caused Olek to lose his sight in one eye, among other vital functions. Numerous sources, including Upworthy.com, are praising the athlete’s decision to sell his most prized possession to help Olek and his family.
“[Malachowski] knew the timing was ‘fate,'” writes Upworthy.com contributor Evan Porter. “He decided he had to help.”
Olek’s mother, Goshia, reached out to Malachowski in a letter, stating that the only way she can save her son is seek treatment of the highest care and cost–miles away from their home. She wrote that she fears it will be “too late” by the time they take that option, and that as a mother, it’s simply unacceptable. So when Malachowski took to Facebook to officially make his announcement, fans and supporters alike sent hundreds of heartfelt messages.
In his Facebook post, Malachowski wrote:
“In Rio. I fought for the gold. Today I appeal to everyone – let’s fight together about something that is even more precious: the health of this fantastic boy. If you help me, my silver for I can be more precious than gold.”
If you ask me, that alone is worth more than anything money can buy. It’s not only the mark of a good man. It’s the mark of a true champion.
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Photo Credit: www.techtimes.com