Poland stand with Young Warriors: reigning champions bring "Golden September" to EuroVolley Stage
Feature
As the CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 Men unfolds across four co-hosting nations - Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, and Finland - the eyes of the European Volleyball community are firmly fixed on the court. With tournament action captivating fans in host cities like Sofia, the championship provides a massive platform for visibility. Capitalising on this international spotlight during Friday’s training session at Arena Sofia, the Polish Men’s National Volleyball Team carried a message far bigger than sport: every player and staff member took to the court wearing a golden ribbon on their jersey - a visual pledge of solidarity with children battling cancer.
September marks Golden September, the international childhood cancer awareness campaign dedicated to educating the public on early diagnostic signs and offering support to young patients and their families. For Poland - the reigning European and VNL Champions - wearing the golden ribbon on the training court in Sofia is a natural extension of a long-standing commitment.
Through an ongoing partnership with Poland’s Herosi Foundation (Fundacja Herosi), the national team regularly dedicates its platform to pediatric oncology. Beyond court-side gestures, the players annually participate in dedicated calendar shoots, with all proceeds directly funding medical treatment and vital equipment for young patients.
The initiative in Sofia also aligns with broader social movements in Poland - such as the high-profile campaign supported by national team player Tomasz Fornal and online creator ŁatwoGang - which aims to turn public engagement into actionable, year-round support for verified oncology organisations. As Fornal noted, real help isn't just about making headlines; it's about persistent, real-world action.
By bringing the golden ribbon to the EuroVolley stage, head Coach Nikola Grbić and his squad ensure that as the global spotlight shines on Europe's top team, it shines equally on the young heroes fighting their toughest battles off the court.
Nikola Grbic"We do this every year to raise awareness about childhood cancer, using the platform and reach of the Polish Volleyball Federation - both at home and across the world - as a tool to send a powerful message.”
Poland Head Coach
“We collaborate with the Herosi Foundation, which was originally founded by volleyball players. Last year alone, they managed to raise around three million euros and completely rebuilt a wing of the children’s hospital in Warsaw. Whenever we have free time or the opportunity, we visit those children - not just in Warsaw, but across the country. Just a couple of days before coming to Bulgaria, we visited the hospital in Gdańsk. We also shoot photos for the foundation's annual calendar, which is sold to raise funds directly for their work. Honestly, I feel this is far more important than what we do on the volleyball court.
I don’t even need to explain what these kids and their parents are going through. We simply try to help as much as we can. We know how much they need, and we offer our support through our presence, gifts, and fundraising so they have the facilities and treatments needed for the life battle ahead. It’s just a small role we play, but I know it helps, and we will absolutely continue doing it," Grbic stated.
"Since September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we are reminded that as players representing our national team, we know how vital it is to support others. As representatives of our country, we try to step up for children who need this support far more than we do,” libero Jakub Popiwczak added.
Jakub Popiwczak“As much as we can, we try to support pediatric hospitals through the Herosi Foundation. We visit the kids in the hospital to bring them a little bit of joy and put a smile on their faces. We know that just like in sport, you can only overcome major difficulties when you work as a team. Most of us cannot even imagine how hard it is to fight cancer, especially as a child, so we try to do everything possible to offer help where it's needed."
Libero of Poland