A close-knit community is coming together to support Hanoun, a 14-year-old boy from a football-loving family who is facing an extremely difficult battle against cancer. Friends of the family are asking for help as Hanoun undergoes intensive treatment and his parents work to keep their family together while managing the emotional and financial challenges that have followed his diagnosis.
Hanoun has loved football for as long as he can remember. His greatest dream is to one day play professionally for Real Madrid, and until recently, he had been working toward that goal as a talented youth player with 1. FC Union Berlin.
His development as a footballer has reflected both discipline and determination. He initially played as a strong, intelligent centre-back, where his defensive ability and understanding of the game stood out. He later moved into the role of a technically gifted striker wearing the No. 9 shirt and developed a reputation for scoring goals.
Those close to Hanoun describe him as a fighter who has already overcome serious challenges in his young life. When he was nine, he reportedly survived a severe water hemlock poisoning that nearly cost him his life. His strong heart and intensive medical care helped him survive, and football remained an important source of motivation during his recovery.
At the age of 12, shortly after entering competitive football at a higher level, Hanoun faced another setback when he developed Osgood-Schlatter disease. At first, his family was warned that the condition could potentially prevent him from continuing in elite football.
Hanoun and his family refused to give up on that dream. Only about three months later, he was back on the field and working his way toward a return with the support of his coach. His talent soon attracted attention from Hertha BSC, followed by interest from 1. FC Union Berlin, where he eventually found a new home in football.
Now, however, Hanoun is facing a challenge far more serious than anything he has encountered on the football field. At the end of July, after experiencing prolonged and unexplained abdominal pain, he received a devastating diagnosis: intestinal cancer with involvement of the peritoneum.
Since then, Hanoun has remained in hospital. According to his family’s friends, he has already undergone several major surgeries and is now beginning a long and painful course of chemotherapy. His condition is described as very serious, and the coming months are expected to involve intensive treatment and significant physical and emotional challenges.
Yet those who know Hanoun say his fighting spirit has not disappeared. He continues to approach his situation with the same determination that characterized his football career and his previous battles with serious illness.
One moment in particular has captured the spirit that his friends and family say defines him. While in intensive care, Hanoun reportedly told a nurse, “When I become a professional footballer, I want to build hospitals.” The statement has become a powerful example of his ambition, optimism, and desire to help other people even while he is going through his own difficult circumstances.
For his parents, Aisha and Olinga Gabriel Sr., as well as his 10-year-old brother Gabriel Jr. and older brother Adjatay, life has changed almost overnight. Their days now revolve around hospital visits, medical decisions, Hanoun’s treatment, and the emotional uncertainty that comes with a serious childhood cancer diagnosis.
At the same time, the family must continue to manage everyday expenses and maintain a stable environment for the children. Aisha currently needs to remain at home to care for Hanoun and Gabriel Jr., making it difficult for her to continue working as she normally would.
Olinga Gabriel Sr. is highly qualified and is looking for work that he can perform remotely from home so that he can remain available to his family while also contributing financially. The family’s income has therefore been significantly reduced at the same time that their expenses have increased.
Friends organizing the campaign say their goal is to prevent the financial strain from becoming an additional crisis for the family. They want Aisha and Olinga to be able to focus on Hanoun, his treatment, and their children rather than spending every day worrying about rent, bills, transportation, and other essential expenses.
The fundraising campaign is intended to support several immediate needs. One priority is creating a safe and suitable home environment for Hanoun when he returns from the hospital. His medical situation means he needs a hygienic and protected space for recovery, which has required changes to the family’s living arrangements, including renovations, new furniture, and reorganizing the children’s rooms.
The family also wants Gabriel Jr. to continue having a safe and private place of his own during this difficult period. Maintaining stability for the younger children is especially important while the family adjusts to Hanoun’s treatment and the uncertainty surrounding his health.
Another major part of the campaign is covering the ordinary costs of family life. Rent, food, insurance, utilities, and other household expenses still have to be paid despite the sudden loss of income. Donations are intended to help the family remain financially stable during the months ahead without allowing financial anxiety to overshadow Hanoun’s treatment and recovery.
The campaign will also help with additional expenses connected to Hanoun’s medical care. These may include transportation to and from the hospital, accommodation associated with treatment, hygiene and care supplies, special dietary requirements, and other necessary costs that may arise during a lengthy period of treatment.
The organizers say the central purpose of the campaign is to give the family something that is difficult to replace: time. Time for Hanoun, time for his brothers, time for medical care, and time for the family to remain together without the constant fear that financial problems could make an already devastating situation even harder.
The campaign is being organized by Daniel Nicolai together with close friends of the family. They say they have known Aisha, Olinga Gabriel Sr., Hanoun, Gabriel Jr., and Adjatay personally for many years and describe them as a hardworking, supportive family who have always been friendly and willing to help others.
Now their friends are asking the wider community to return that support.
Every donation, regardless of size, can help reduce some of the financial pressure surrounding Hanoun’s treatment and give his parents more freedom to concentrate on caring for their children. For people who are unable to contribute financially, sharing the campaign can also help by connecting the family with others who may be able to assist.
Hanoun’s journey is not simply about a teenage footballer facing a serious illness. It is about a young boy who has already demonstrated remarkable resilience, a family determined to stay together, and a community trying to ensure that financial hardship does not make an already painful situation even more difficult.
The family is holding on to hope as Hanoun continues treatment, and those closest to him remain focused on the future he still dreams about. His ambition to become a professional footballer and one day build hospitals is a reminder of the determination and compassion that his loved ones say have always been part of who he is.
The friends supporting the campaign are asking people to stand with Hanoun and his family during the months ahead. Each contribution can provide practical help, while each message, prayer, or share can remind the family that they are not facing this fight alone.
The organizers say every contribution will go directly to the family. Their hope is simple: to give Hanoun the support he needs to continue fighting, give his parents the ability to remain by his side, and help the entire family get through this extraordinarily difficult period together.
