‘We were blown away by how many people helped us… All Cork people are amazing’
14:59, 29 Dec 2025Updated 15:00, 29 Dec 2025
Liutauras Stankaitis with his daughter Amanda and wife Arnolda
A family say they’ve been “blown away” by the support from Cork communities as their father is now fighting cancer for the second time after a decade of good health.
Liutauras Stankaitis, 39, is undergoing chemotherapy for a tumour found on his aorta in his chest back in 2023 that only recently became cancerous. The discovery was heartbreaking for him, his wife Arnolda and daughter Amanda – bringing back difficult memories of Liutauras’ severe health struggles after being diagnosed with testicular cancer back in 2015. He was 25 at the time and working as a security guard at the Blackpool Shopping Centre, a job he eventually had to leave as his condition got worse.
During his first battle with the disease, Liutauras’s cancer spread to his abdominal area and formed a number of large tumours. He started chemotherapy as soon as possible, which unfortunately led to even more complications as his body reacted poorly – causing a heart attack and a blood clot to form. To remove to cancer on his abdomen, he had to fly abroad to The Royal Marsden Hospital in London for three major surgeries, each of which took a heavy toll on his body. Liutauras also had to get one of his testicles removed to reduce the risk of the cancer spreading further.
Liutauras Stankaitis with his daughter Amanda and wife Arnolda
He had finally completed his treatments in late 2016, but has been unable to go back to his old job ever since due to lasting health impacts from the disease. Searching for a new career path, Liutauras later started a degree in Business Information Sciences in UCC, all while undergoing regular tests to check for any signs of his cancer returning. As he was approaching the end of his degree however, his family got the news they had been dreading as a tumour was found on Liutaruas’s aorta. Despite the shock, Liutauras persevered with his studies and graduated from his course last year.
Due to the tumour’s location, he is unable to get surgery to have it removed in Ireland, and has been searching abroad for doctors willing to take his challenging case. The tumour only recently became cancerous, and his cancer cell count is growing rapidly. Liutauras has started chemotherapy at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork city.
Speaking to Cork Beo, Liutauras’ wife and teenage sweetheart, Arnolda, said they never wanted to ask for financial support – but their other relatives stepped in and set up a GoFundMe on their behalf. In just under three weeks, it has already raised almost €11k. She said: “We were blown away by how many people helped us. We would never ask for help on our own – but my brother and his wife stepped in and did it for us. All Cork people are amazing.”
All money raised will go towards essential living expenses, helping the family stay in their home and other necessary supports for the long road ahead. You can donate to support Liutauras’ family here.
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