Fairfield Teen’s Cancer Battle Receives National Attention

FAIRFIELD, CT — As Fairfield’s Charlie Capalbo continues his fight against cancer, his family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support he has received – not just locally, but across the nation.

Family friend John McCormick created a GoFundMe page last month in support of Charlie, who 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.

Since then, not only has the GoFundMe page raised more than $168,000 in 21 days, but Charlie’s fight has received national attention.

The Fairfield Citizen reports that Washington Capitals goaltending coach Mitch Korn, who directed a camp Charlie attended when he was about 12 years old, has been texting with Charlie after becoming aware of the GoFundMe page.

Charlie has also received video “shoutouts” from New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, an autographed jersey from 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey hero Mike Eruzione and a phone call from former Boston University hockey player Travis Roy, who was paralyzed while playing his first college hockey shift, according to the Citizen.

The support hasn’t been limited to the hockey world as he has also received video messages from John Cena and several other members of the WWE, the Citizen reports.

While Charlie faces an “extremely long and difficult” course of treatment, according to the GoFundMe page, it is “treatable and it is more importantly curable.”

“Treatment plan as follows, total duration is 32 months of chemotherapy,” McCormick wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Initially daily for a week then 2 times a week for 8 1/2 months then then once a week for year and a half. He will remain in the hospital for approximately another week or so if he tolerates the chemo well.”

Chris Elsberry of the Connecticut Post reports that Charlie is currently unable to attend classes at Fairfield Ludlowe but he is hoping to be able to walk in the graduation ceremony in June if the doctors approve.

Read more about Charlie’s road to recovery at the Connecticut Post here.

For more on the national attention his fight has received, visit the Fairfield Citizen here.

Photo via GoFundMe