Joe Marini, better known as “Chicken Joe,” and his family need your help.
Joe’s brother brother-in- law, Salvatore Di Blasi, is suffering from Stage 4 stomach cancer. The family just learned of this diagnosis on April 1, 2016.
Joe Kaliko is asking the community to rally around Sal and his family. First, according to Kaliko of Needs Clearing House, “They need your prayers since miracles do happen….and Salvatore can really use one now.” Joe tells us that Salvatore is the family’s sole provider; and the cost of caring for Salvatore is overwhelming the family. Thousands of dollars are needed each month for medical services, care givers, drugs, insurance and much more.
“This family has done so much for individuals, charitable organizations and our community at large, now it’s our turn to try and help these good people,” said Kaliko, who added, “Chicken Joe and his family is doing their best, pooling all their resources, but the emotional and financial stress is taking its toll.”
Salvatore was born in Italy and came to the United States at 19 years old. He has worked his entire life and married his wife Lucia in 1986. Thirty years later they have three children and a granddaughter. In 2006 Lucia was left disabled and cannot work following brain surgery to fix a spinal tap injury. Sal, again the sole breadwinner, has had to work two and three jobs at a time to provide for his family; yet he always found the time to help someone else needing a helping hand.
Sal is seen in the drivers seat of the Chicken Joe Ride For Kids truck….
Salvatore cleared the way and led all the bikers riding in the very first “Chicken Joe’s Annual Ride For Kids.”
He drove Chicken Joe’s van loaded with food, beverages and parts for the riders’ bikes. Salvatore collected money for a local child suffering from Niemann-Pick disease and worked at every Chicken Joe fundraiser helping raise money for countless charities.
Salvatore helped raise funds to replace a church roof and helped fire victims who lost everything.
“In short, in addition to working hard to support his family, he made the time to do God’s work in the community,” said Kaliko.
Now fast forwarding to the present, it’s Salvatore who needs all the prayers he can get.
He is no longer able to work as he is receiving a three-drug combo of the strongest course of chemotherapy. The plan is to continue the therapy for 4-6 months, followed by an operation to remove his entire stomach, followed by another 4-6 months of chemotherapy. Salvatore simply can no longer work and needs to conserve all his strength to literally survive.
Can you help? Prayers first and then any donations to help relieve the families stress.
Again, the Marini family has always been there to help all sorts of charities and individuals. The high school, St. Judes, all sorts of kids organizations, first responders, etc.
The goal is to raise $50,000 in 90 days.
Please use PayPal on the Needs Clearing House website www.theneedsclearinghouse.org to make a tax deductible contribution (The Needs Clearing House, Inc. is a 501c3 charity).
Or send a check payable to “Needs Clearing House” and mail to Needs Clearing House, PO Box 7621, Greenwich CT 06836.
Please note: “CHICKEN JOE’S FAMILY” in the memo section of your payment.
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