In a remarkable 36-hour span, a grassroots effort on Facebook succeeded in gathering over 305,000 Cuban pesos for a Havana mother raising her teenage son with cerebral palsy under severe conditions.
The Man Behind the Movement
Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez, a well-known activist on social media platforms as Guillermo Rodsan, announced the news on Thursday. He spearheaded the campaign, rallying support from followers both within Cuba and abroad.
“I am thrilled to share that, thanks to all of your contributions, we have raised 305,000 pesos in just 36 hours to support this mother in Havana who is raising her child with cerebral palsy under very challenging circumstances,” Rodríguez Sánchez posted on Facebook.
More Surprises Ahead
The activist hinted that the total amount raised might exceed the initial figure: “The final sum to be delivered will be greater than these 305,000 pesos; I still have a little surprise up my sleeve.”
The funds will be distributed partly in cash and partly via bank transfer. Each step of the process will be documented photographically, a transparency method Rodríguez Sánchez employs in all his fundraising efforts to assure donors of the integrity of the process.
A Glimpse into Their Lives
The accompanying image in his post paints a stark picture of the family's living conditions: a modest home with deteriorating wooden walls, broken tile floors, and toys strewn across a table covered with green fabric, highlighting the family's stark reality.
A Broader Context of Need
This instance is just one among many similar situations where public support has been necessary due to the Cuban state's shortcomings. On July 14, compassionate Cubans gathered 45,000 pesos for Yosuán, a child with cerebral palsy from Cárdenas, Matanzas.
Cuban families with children suffering from this condition face a lack of essential medications, rehabilitation supplies, and crumbling hospital infrastructure—challenges that have only intensified amid the economic and health crisis facing the island in 2025 and 2026.
Continued Efforts and Impact
Rodríguez Sánchez has a well-documented history of similar campaigns. On July 18, he raised over 400,000 pesos in two days for Lía Isabel García Torres, a young girl in Bayamo, Granma. In April, he collected a million pesos to build a new home for two children in Júcaro, Ciego de Ávila. By June, alongside Glenda Rancano, he had amassed more than 1.5 million pesos and $2,125 for Ernesto Almaguer Díaz.
Social media-organized solidarity has emerged as one of the few effective support systems for Cuban families enduring extreme vulnerability, in the face of a state unable to meet basic needs.
“Thank you for your trust,” Rodríguez Sánchez concluded in his post, addressing those who made the swift fundraising possible.
Frequently Asked Questions about Solidarity Campaigns in Cuba
How much money was raised for the Havana family?
Over 305,000 Cuban pesos were collected in just 36 hours for the family in Havana.
Who led the fundraising campaign?
The campaign was organized by Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez, also known as Guillermo Rodsan on social media.
What challenges do Cuban families with special needs children face?
These families often deal with a shortage of medications, lack of rehabilitation supplies, and deteriorating hospital infrastructure, compounded by the ongoing economic and health crises.