Next week, Polk County resident Rafael Martin will take a 100-mile stroll from one Florida Subway to another — all to raise funds for pediatric cancer patients. Martin, a special education teacher who has made walks and runs of this ilk in the past, plans to collect enough donations to buy kids admitted to Orlando's Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children some Christmas gifts.
His journey kicks off at a Subway along North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa at 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 19. He'll then travel to one in Lakeland and one in Kissimmee before ending at his fourth on South Orlando Avenue, near the 158-bed children's hospital, at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21.
As a survivor of prostate cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2014, Martin is passionate about curing and bringing awareness to the disease as a whole.
"When I heard about these kids fighting cancer at the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital, I knew I had to help them," said Martin in a statement posted to his GoFundMe page. "At the very least these kids deserve to have a great Christmas with presents, family and happiness. These kids are fighting as hard as they can against cancer, so they deserve something special. I also want to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of cancer in America. Every year the rates of cancer keep getting higher, and we need to work together to find a cure. I want to live in future where no children will ever have to fight cancer."
So far, the crowdfunding campaign has raised close to $300 of its $5,000.
"I am sick and tired of seeing my family, friends and children die from this disease," Martin continued. "The root cause of these cancers needs to be found so we can create a cure. I will do whatever it takes to help make that happen."
This article appears in Nov 8-15, 2018.