“Overwhelming” willingness to donate for goalkeeper after cancer drama

Berkin Arslanogullari is dependent on financial help because of his cancer. He receives this from all over the football world.

Berlin – The football community is currently deeply moved by the fate of the young goalkeeper talent Berkin Arslanogullari. The 19-year-old Union Berlin youth player is battling bone cancer and had to undergo a leg amputation to save his life.

But the fight continues. A friend of the Arslanogullari family has launched an appeal for donations due to the enormous treatment and care costs. Many people have already responded, including some Union fans and numerous other football stars.

“Absolutely overwhelming”: High willingness to donate for goalkeeper after cancer drama

Under the motto “New start for Berkin”, supporters can use the platform gofundme for the treatment costs, a handicapped-accessible apartment, but also a prosthetic leg for Arslanogullari. Within a few days, almost 230,000 euros have already been collected (as of September 19). The goal of the campaign is two million euros.

The donors include many former Union players, including Italian football legend Leonardo Bonucci, club icon Sebastian Bönig and B-youth coach André Vilk. National player Robert Andrich, who played in Köpenick from 2019 to 2021, also took part. Christian Arbeit, the Union's media director and stadium announcer, described the high level of willingness to donate within a short period of time as “absolutely overwhelming”.

“Far from over”: Union goalkeeper Arslanogullari is battling cancer

This gives the 19-year-old goalkeeper strength. “It is a great response to a very sad story. “We are keeping our fingers crossed because it is far from over,” said Arbeit. He said he was “very touched, very impressed and very relieved because it makes the situation easier for the family.”