The family of Charlie Capalbo and about 12 to 15 other friends will be departing from The Cos Cobber to walk a marathon to Fairfield to raise funds for pediatric cancer around 7 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4.
The family would normally go to Boston and walk for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the route they are walking now is a virtual substitute for all of the people that would normally participate to do so all over the country wherever is convenient to them.
Charlie Capalbo was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma during his senior year in high school. While he was getting treatment for that, fluid from a spinal tap for chemotherapy revealed a new of cancer called acute myeloid leukemia(AML).
Charlie was treated at Yale New Haven hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. After a long recovery, rehab process and isolation period from May through November in 2019, he was allowed to attend college in January of 2020 at Fairfield University.
Charlie was friends with Greenwich’s own Steven Sudell. They went on a ski trip together with the Sunshine Kids in March of 2018 and crossed paths again when they underwent treatment at Yale New Haven Hospital.
The Capalbo family is thankful that Charlie is still alive to this day and that is what inspires them to participate in events that benefit pediatric cancer.
“Our family just tries really hard to be grateful all the time and remember how lucky we are to actually have him still alive,” Charlie’s mother Jenny said.
The family has met a large number of families throughout Charlie’s treatments.
“We have counted like 50 something families that we have gotten to know,” Charlie’s father Anthony said.
The Capalbo family created a team that anyone can still join for $5 with a commitment to raise $95. Children can also join for $5 with a commitment to raise $20. Participants can walk anywhere they choose and for whatever distance they desire.
The walk will take place this Sunday, but donations will be accepted through Oct. 31.
Funds raised go to Dana Farber, an outpatient cancer institute and Boston Children’s Hospital, an inpatient hospital for children who need treatment. Those two hospitals work hand-in-hand.
Anyone who wants to participate or donate to the cause should click here.