$100K Raised In 2 Days For Charlie Capalbo's 3rd Cancer Battle

FAIRFIELD, CT — In just a few days, donors have given nearly $100,000 to Fairfield’s Capalbo family, as 22-year-old Charlie Capalbo faces cancer for the third time.

“We can’t sugar coat this,” family friend John McCormick said in a post on the GoFundMe page he started for the family. “This third battle is going to be the toughest.”

In 2017, Charlie was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoblastic lymphoma T-cell Stage 3 soon after completing his senior season as a goalie for the Fairfield Ludlowe-Fairfield Warde co-op hockey team.

With a softball-sized tumor in his chest, the 18-year-old underwent 36 months of chemotherapy. He began to regain his health, and enrolled at Fairfield University in 2018.

But just four weeks into the school year, new cancer cells were found in his spinal fluid, and he was admitted to Boston Children’s Hospital. In 2019, he received a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother, William Capalbo.

“After having beaten lymphoma and leukemia, he is now preparing to face off with leukemia again,” McCormick said. “Charlie and his parents, brother, family and friends have been warriors, wingmen, and unbelievably strong through the last four-plus years. But he’s going to need an army of support to get through this one. COVID-19 is only making a difficult time worse.”

Since McCormick’s latest call Sunday for donations to the GoFundMe, the total amount raised has increased from $265,000 — all of which was contributed to support Charlie’s previous cancer battles — to just over $364,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

“These years of illness have been financially devastating and another long-term stay in Boston is daunting,” McCormick said.

In addition to donations, the Capalbo family is asking for prayers.

“Pray that they can endure what is to come and that Charlie can finally beat this monster,” McCormick said. “They believe that the love and prayers of so many people helped them through the first two times.”

To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/tc8mac-charlie-capalbo-be-strong.