Organizer: Funds Raised by 'Duck Rally' Give Hope to Dozens of Families

Kaia Gil, organizer of the charity event 'Duck Rally', announced that this year they managed to raise €493,000. While some years have seen higher totals, Gil noted that thanks to generous donors, the amount has consistently stayed around half a million euros in recent years.

The event sells 20,000 rubber ducks annually, but the final sum depends on how expensive ducks people buy. A duck costs €10, but every year there are individuals who purchase a duck for €200 or even €1,000.

Gil emphasized that the collected funds enable many good deeds and give hope to dozens of families. A significant portion goes toward purchasing medications not yet covered by the Health Insurance Fund. She stressed that children diagnosed with cancer remain children even within hospital walls, and the funds provide creative therapy, psychological support for families, and round-the-clock assistance from a support person.

Thanks to the campaign, a new cancer treatment method – CAR-T cell therapy – will become available in Estonia. This therapy trains the patient's own immune cells to recognize cancer cells. Previously, patients had to travel to Finland or Lithuania for this treatment. Gil expressed hope that the first procedures could take place in Estonia this year.