David visits the children suffering from cancer at the Fundeni Clinical Institute and presents the first 20 ribbons to those who have survived the fight against the disease.
“I deeply admire these children; it was very hard to go into those rooms, and just as hard to leave. Because they are going through something… I mean, when we say we have problems, no, we don’t. I don’t have the right to complain that I have it hard… because they are the ones truly facing difficulty. I felt admiration and respect for them, and I’m happy that many have managed to overcome this ruthless disease,” he added.
Genetic tests cost around €3,000, but are provided free of charge to children through the „Speranța nu moare de cancer” (“Hope Doesn’t Die of Cancer”) program. Popovici stated that the government should also be a major sponsor in these types of projects.
David donated his birthday to help five performing musician brothers secure a home where dreams could become reality, where they could pursue their passion without the uncertainty of tomorrow. With the support of over 2,500 donors, a total of €56,000 was raised, providing a home for the five brothers who possess an extraordinary musical talent.
“I can’t help but think about how much I’ve accomplished, how much I’ve learned from my work and my journey so far, but above all, that I always, always had two parents by my side who were able to provide everything I needed to succeed. Because, without support, a child cannot excel, no matter how much they want to,” says David.
David becomes a voice for the most vulnerable children and young people—those still living in orphanages in Romania or at risk of being institutionalized. Alongside Amalia Enache, Alexandru Tomescu, Marius Manole, and Mihai Morar, David became the fifth Ambassador for children who, without roots, a family environment to grow in, and without support, have no chance of becoming the responsible adults that society expects them to be. For them, those who can make a difference are saying #SuntAici (#IAmHere).
David joins MedLife as an Ambassador of Hope through the #SperantaNuMoareDeCancer (#HopeDoesntDieofCancer) campaign. This free genetic testing program provides pediatric patients recently diagnosed with cancer access to one of the most complex sequencing tests in the world for oncological diseases, analyzing mutations in 523 genes associated with multiple types of cancer. Based on the testing results, oncologists can select the most suitable treatments and therapies for each patient, depending on the tumor’s mutational profile.
As part of this campaign, David donated a gold medal he won in the 200 meters freestyle event at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest to the Romanian organization MedLife. The metal from his medal will be transformed into over 100 gold ribbons which will be given to children who have beat cancer.
David joins the DAR scholarship recipients of Hope and Homes for Children—vulnerable children who excel in art, sports, or academics. This program aims to discover children with remarkable achievements and support their performance, ensuring that a lack of resources will not take away their right to shine.
They talked about performance, about vulnerability in all its shapes, about the power of a smile offered at the right moment, and the little joys that make life beautiful; they talked about (mis)fortune and how to never stop believing in yourself despite hardship.
“Even when you reach a high level of performance (in sports and beyond), never forget that you actually want to play and enjoy what you do,” David Popovici told the young recipients of the #BurseleDAR (#DARscholarships) during a warm, joyful, and emotional meeting.
