Polish Olympian to auction off silver medal to help treat ill young boy

Polish Olympic discus thrower Piotr Malachowski, who won a silver medal at the Rio Summer Games last week, announced on his Facebook page Friday that he is auctioning off his medal to help treat Olek Szymanski, a 3-year-old Polish boy who suffers from retinoblastoma.

"In Rio I fought for gold," Malachowski wrote, according to Facebook's translation. "Today, I appeal to everyone -- let's fight together about something that is even more precious. The health of this fantastic boy."

According to Malachowski, the procedure to treat the rare form of cancer isn't available in Poland, and is offered only in New York.

Siepomaga, a Polish charity foundation, has already raised nearlyone-third of the $126,000 necessary to finance the treatment. The auction is scheduled to end Friday, with all proceeds going to Szymanski's treatment.

"If you help me," Malachowski said, "my silver may be more valuable than gold for Olek."