Over £16k raised for 3-year-old boy battling rare eye cancer with treatment in Switzerland

Gustas has been undergoing treatment since 2021 for retinoblastoma, a malignant eye tumour, since he was just three months old. His treatment requires frequent trips to Switzerland as his condition cannot be treated in Lithuania. To date, the family has made 36 trips for specialised care, but after three years of treatment, funds have run out. Peterborough Lithuanian Community (PeLB), together with the Lithuanian Mothers' Union, organised a charity event in Peterborough on September 15, with the goal to raise £10,000.

The toll on Gustas' young body has been significant as he endured numerous chemotherapy sessions, anesthesia, and painkillers to fight the tumours. To help cover the costs of his continued treatment, a GoFundMe page has been launched, inviting people to contribute and support Gustas' family in sustaining his long-term care.

The page says: “Most of us have not experienced as much in our lives as Gustas has in his short three years. It's astonishing just to think about the number of flights he has taken, over 60, not for dream vacations, but for each crucial meeting with doctors and the not-so-pleasant eye cancer treatments.”

His mother, Ugnė Žymantaitė-Spancernienė, shared her gratitude in a heartfelt letter: "The words once spoken are probably true, that the most difficult riddle of our lives is illness... Our greatest treasure is our children, and the greatest happiness is health."

The charity event, which attracted around 400 people, was called “Kasdienis Gerumas” (Everyday Kindness). It featured performances by local Lithuanian dance and music groups, family activities, a charity auction, and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses. Attendees included dignitaries such as representatives from the Lithuanian Embassy, Mayor of Peterborough Councillor Marco Cereste, and renowned Lithuanian chef Beata Nicholson.

Kęstutis Liugaila, chairman of PeLB, praised the overwhelming support the family received, saying: "The generosity and kindness shown today is beyond words. Every donation, every effort counts towards giving Gustas a chance to regain his childhood."