A father who died of cancer asked family and friends if they could help fulfil his last wish - for his son to have a bright future.
Kacper Zdunek, 16, suffered through both his parents passing away within eight months of each other.
Now he's being cared for by a guardian and close family friend, and those around him are rallying together to raise money for him.
They hope to give him the chance to have some financial security, and to live his and his parents’ dream of going to university and having a bright future, MyLondon reports.
Kacper lived with his mum, Ania Zoltowska, and dad, Gracjan Zdunek, in Mare Street, Hackney, before their heartbreaking deaths.
Anjum Chowdhery, a close friend of the family and executor and trustee of both parents’ wills, is fundraising for Kacper, alongside Kacper’s guardian, Edyta Grzebien Correia and two other friends of the family.
Anjum said: “This fundraiser is for our very brave Kacper, the ever so quiet, shy boy who is studious and bright, a caring and loving child, who I know is completely heartbroken deep inside and missing his mum and dad.
“This is all about trying to give Kacper what his parents worked so hard for, a good education, a good start in life, a future. As Gracjan said to me 'I do not want my son to wait on tables like me, I want more for him and he will make it'.”
Gracjan and Ania came to the UK from Poland in 2001.
The both worked hard to make a good life for themselves and their only child. and Kacper.
Tragically, in early 2020, Gracjan was diagnosed with aggressive terminal cancer, and began chemotherapy.
“He got diagnosed with terminal cancer, out of the blue, in early 2020,” Anjum said. “Really aggressive. His partner Ania was doing ok on the face of it”.
But unbeknown to family and friends, Ania was struggling to deal with Gracjan's diagnosis, and tragically took her life in June 2020.
Anjum said: “We only found out after her death that she had said she wasn’t coping with his diagnosis. It was terminal and she couldn’t cope with it. I’ve known her for 18 years and didn’t see any issues before this.”
Writing on Go Fund Me, he said: “The day that Ania died, both Gracjan's and Kacper's grief was palpable, and I would challenge any human being to not be moved by watching father and son cling to one another. It was completely crushing. Both Gracjan and Kacper somehow found the strength within each other to keep moving forward.
“Gracjan, being the great friend that he was and not wanting to burden anyone, simply asked for me to keep in touch with Kacper and to help him, if he should ask me.
“It was one of the most humbling moments of my adult life and I am not ashamed to admit that there were many tears. It was also clear to see that Gracjan was slowly preparing Kacper for life without him, which was incredibly moving and so desperately sad to watch a loving father preparing his only child for life without both his parents.”
Gracjan's condition deteriorated and on January 21 2021, he was admitted to Homerton Hospital.
Sadly, he passed away on February 13.
Writing on Go Fund Me, Anjum said: “It is fair to say we have all lost a dear friend in Gracjan, someone who made everyone smile with his infectious personality, warmth and undeniable wit, he will be missed but never forgotten.
“For both Gracjan and Anna's blood relatives, I doubt any of us can fully appreciate their loss. Alas, the only one consolation is that Gracjan will be reunited with his beloved Anna, this time for all of eternity.”
Anjum told MyLondon that Gracjan's funeral service was an emotional day, and 'really sad'.
He continued: “To lose one parent is one thing. To lose both and have no one else here is a really tough one. It was a difficult day for him [Kacper].”
Kacper now lives with his guardian Edyta, just outside of London. Anjum describes Edyta, a close friend of Gracjan as being “nothing short of amazing, taking on such a huge responsibility”. She also has a young family of her own.
Kacper is focused on his studies and friends hope that reaching their fundraising target can help him have a brighter future and help pay for his univeristy education, after the terrible tragedies he has faced at such a young age.
They hope to raise £25,000.
“The most important thing is his university education and having some financial security to [deal with] anything thrown at him,” added Anjum.
“Giving him that chance, stepping up without his parents being around.”
If you are able to donate to help Kacper, you can do so here .
If you are struggling with your mental health, or are affected by anything in this story, you can call the Samaritans free, any time, from any phone on 116 123.
