Dear friends, family, and kind strangers,

I never imagined I would be writing something like this for one of my closest friends, my partner in touring, one of the best people I know, and, without question, an excellent advisor in the “buying shoes” department.

Our Darko is currently fighting laryngeal cancer that has now spread to his lungs.

Over the past months, his life has completely changed. What used to be days filled with people, stories, buses, ships, Icelandic snowstorms, and Croatian seas… has been replaced by hospital visits, blood tests, PET scans, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and the constant uncertainty that comes with all of it.

Many of you know Darko as a tour guide: someone who dedicated his life to meeting people, sharing stories, and bringing places to life. He has always been full of energy, warmth, humor, and kindness - the kind of person who naturally takes care of others.

Today, he needs help himself.

Because of the illness, he is no longer able to work, and the financial pressure has become overwhelming. On top of everything, he is facing much of this battle far away from his daughter, who is currently living in Dubrovnik, Croatia, while he remains in Oslo, Norway for treatment and care. Being separated during something this difficult has been incredibly hard for both of them.

I am organizing this fundraiser to help him focus on what matters most right now: treatment, recovery, and spending precious time with his daughter — without the constant stress of finances.

The donations will help with:

medical and treatment-related expenses

living costs during treatment

travel and support needs

loss of income while he cannot work

We are aiming to raise the minimum of €20,000 — which appears in the campaign as Norwegian kroner (around NOK 215,000).

50 EUR = 540 NOK

100 EUR = 1000 NOK

If you are able to help, no matter how small the amount, it would mean the world.

And if you cannot donate, sharing this campaign is also a huge help.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing beside someone who has spent his life giving so much to others.

With love and gratitude,

Antonija

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Za naše prijatelje i obitelj u Hrvatskoj / BiH:

Dragi prijatelji, obitelj i dobri ljudi,

Nisam ni mogla zamisliti da ću ikada pisati nešto ovakvo za jednog od svojih najbližih prijatelja, mog partnera u turističkim avantura,a, jednu od najboljih osoba koje poznajem i, bez sumnje, izvrsnog savjetnika u svemu a pogotovo u odabiru cipela.

Naš Darko trenutno se bori s karcinomom grkljana koji se, nažalost, proširio na pluća.

U posljednjih nekoliko mjeseci njegov se život potpuno promijenio. Ono što su nekad bili dani ispunjeni ljudima, pričama, autobusima, brodovima, islandskim snježnim olujama i hrvatskim morem… sada su zamijenili bolnički odlasci, vađenja krvi, PET pretrage, kemoterapija, imunoterapija i stalna neizvjesnost koja sve to prati.

Mnogi od vas poznaju Darka kao turističkog vodiča, kao osobu koja je svoj život posvetila radu s ljudima, pričama i oživljavanju mjesta kroz koja nas vodi. Uvijek je bio pun energije, topline, humora i dobrote, prije svega čovjek koji brine o drugima.

Danas je njemu potrebna pomoć.

Zbog bolesti više nije u mogućnosti raditi, a financijski pritisak postaje sve teži. Uz sve to, velik dio ove borbe prolazi daleko od svoje kćeri, koja trenutno živi u Dubrovniku, dok je on u Oslu na liječenju. Ta razdvojenost u ovako teškom trenutku posebno je bolna za oboje.

Ovu kampanju pokrećem kako bismo mu pomogli da se usredotoči na ono najvažnije: liječenje, oporavak i vrijeme koje može provesti sa svojom kćeri, bez stalnog stresa zbog financija.

Prikupljena sredstva pomoći će pokriti:

troškove liječenja i medicinskih postupaka

osnovne životne troškove tijekom liječenja

putne troškove i dodatnu podršku

gubitak prihoda zbog nemogućnosti rada

Cilj nam je prikupiti minimalno 20.000 € (što je u kampanji prikazano u norveškim krunama, oko 215.000 NOK).

Ako ste u mogućnosti pomoći, bez obzira na iznos, to bi nam jako puno značilo.

Ako ne možete donirati, i samo dijeljenje ove kampanje puno pomaže.

Hvala vam što ste odvojili vrijeme za čitanje, na brizi i podršci osobi koja je cijeli svoj život davala drugima.

S ljubavlju i zahvalnošću,

Antonija