‘A Commentary’
Hampton Union, Friday, July 23, 2010
[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]
As if he doesn’t do enough around town, Ralph Fatello is at it again.
Starting Monday, this generous man is giving of himself to benefit others by surfing every day for an entire year to raise money the Molly Fund, which helps families financially while they are helping a child battle cancer.
It is named after Molly Rowlee of Hampton, who died last year at age 5 from cancer — specifically anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
Fatello met Molly because he knows her parents, Buck and Meg, through surfing.
He says “Molly touched my soul.”
After she was diagnosed the Hampton and surfing community rallied in support of her and her family.
Fatello wants to continue that support in her memory and honor other people he has known who have died from cancer.
He has proven his dedication and commitment in this manner before, when he surfed every day for a year in 2000 in memory of his father and raised more than $20,000 for the American Diabetes Association.
This will not be any easy task. Fatello is 60 this year and, while in good shape, the strain and stress doesn’t get any easier as we age.
Ten years ago he kept a journal that chronicles him surfing while having the flu, a broken bone, snow and ice and hail, and 75 mph winds.
Fatello says when weather conditions become challenging he’s going to think of Molly and the others. It could be a long, tough winter for him, but we think he can do it. Good luck Ralph Fatello.
To make donations to the Molly Fund, go to http://mollyrowlee.com.