Life for Mila campaign raises over $1.5 million
- by croatiaweek
- in News
30 March 2019 – A huge fundraising campaign to help young Mila Rončević from Rijeka in Croatia get to America for life-saving treatment has raised over $1.5 million in just over a day.
Around $2.8 million is required to get Mila the treatment she needs in America. Mila, who is almost 2 years old, has been in the Children’s Hospital Kantrida in Rijeka fighting leukaemia (acute myelogenous megakaryocytic leukemia AML M7) for the last year.
A website – Life for Mila – has been launched in both Croatian and English which is tracking donations live. Late on Saturday afternoon, over $1.5 million had been raised.
The coordinated media campaign to help Mila has touched Croatia and the diaspora with a number of high-profile people such as the president and Luka Modrić joining in support.
Mila’s father, Marin Rončević, is overwhelmed with the support from those who have got involved in the campaign for his daughter, from the top state officials, to the American Ambassador, to the citizens of Croatia and the diaspora.
It now looks most likely that Mila will head to America on Tuesday, with the airline tickets already purchased. Mila was due to start receiving therapy (Clofarabine) today, but this has been postponed to Monday.
Doctors at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia are currently working on a treatment plan for Mila. They should be finished on Monday. After speaking with the American ambassador, Mila’s parents have decoded to wait with chemotherapy. Mila feels good, and if on Monday they receive the plan with the costs involved, they will most likely fly to Philadelphia on Tuesday, Index reported, adding that according to the latest information, one year treatment for Mila in America will likely cost over $2.2 million.
Zagreb mayor Milan Bandić said on Saturday that the City of Zagreb would make up any shortfall in funds in getting Mila to America for treatment.
You can visit the crowdfunding page and make a donation for Mila by clicking here. Or this crowdfunding page set up in New York here.
Or you make a payment direct on the account (details below)
IBAN: HR3641330063110002644 to Marin Rončević (address: Marin Roncevic, Hreljin 33B, 51226 Hreljin, Croatia) payment description – “Gift for Health Care of Mila Rončević treatment”.
Model: 99 or 00
BIC/SWIFT: SKOVHR22
Bank name: Banka Kovanica d.d.,Varazdin
