October 19-26 was Hilton's World Wide "Global Week of Service". This year, The Waterfront Beach Resort had taken up the cause of six year old Rafael Medina who now since passed.
Little Rafael was very much like any other six year old you might meet… funny, shy, fidgety, loves to tease and play with his brother and sister, and wishes he had all the superpowers of Spiderman, his favorite comic book and movie hero. Raffie though, for all his strength, courage, willingness to endure has limited “Spidey” powers...suffering from a terrible and incurable form of pediatric cancer that afflicts young boys between the ages of four and ten. This awful disease is called rhabdomyosarcoma and is a very specific type of tumorous mass that attacks and destroys the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones. It is almost always fatal even for those fortunate enough to have excellent insurance and limitless funds…neither of which described the circumstances of Rafael or his immediate and extended family.
Hilton World Wide’s “Global Week of Service” is a week in which every property in the Hilton Global Community is tasked with giving back to the people and communities who so graciously allow us to serve our guests and clients in their towns, cities and countries. Projects range from community revitalization and devolvement, mentoring and hiring programs, or charitable work and affiliation with known and reputable organizations. Quite by accident (via one of our associates here at the hotel) The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, in Huntington Beach, CA was made aware of the story of Rafael and his family. We were extremely moved and at the same time looking for a project or charity that would fulfill our desire to participate in the “Global Week of Service” and beyond. We think we have found a perfect match.
We have selected the Irvine, Ca based Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation as our charity of choice for the Global Week of Service. Based on both independent auditing ratings and the obvious connection to young Rafael, we believe we have identified a two-fold way to “give back”. FACT: every $50 raised = 1 full hour of care and reserch. Countless thousands of hours are needed to defeat childhood cancers but do not give up hope...every little bit helps!
This GoFundMe.com website has been be established in Rafael’s name as we go to battle this particular form of childhood cancer. Remarkably, this area of research is severely underfunded in the world. Armed with that knowledge, we know we have our work cut out for us.
May fortune favor the foolish; may the divine bless us with strength and courage to go about our work and get done what needs doing; and may God bless you with the grace, courage and love possessed by this smiling six-year old "Spiderman" named Rafael.
Please be generous. Your contributions will make an enormous and direct differernce today. Thank you.
Little Rafael was very much like any other six year old you might meet… funny, shy, fidgety, loves to tease and play with his brother and sister, and wishes he had all the superpowers of Spiderman, his favorite comic book and movie hero. Raffie though, for all his strength, courage, willingness to endure has limited “Spidey” powers...suffering from a terrible and incurable form of pediatric cancer that afflicts young boys between the ages of four and ten. This awful disease is called rhabdomyosarcoma and is a very specific type of tumorous mass that attacks and destroys the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones. It is almost always fatal even for those fortunate enough to have excellent insurance and limitless funds…neither of which described the circumstances of Rafael or his immediate and extended family.
Hilton World Wide’s “Global Week of Service” is a week in which every property in the Hilton Global Community is tasked with giving back to the people and communities who so graciously allow us to serve our guests and clients in their towns, cities and countries. Projects range from community revitalization and devolvement, mentoring and hiring programs, or charitable work and affiliation with known and reputable organizations. Quite by accident (via one of our associates here at the hotel) The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, in Huntington Beach, CA was made aware of the story of Rafael and his family. We were extremely moved and at the same time looking for a project or charity that would fulfill our desire to participate in the “Global Week of Service” and beyond. We think we have found a perfect match.
We have selected the Irvine, Ca based Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation as our charity of choice for the Global Week of Service. Based on both independent auditing ratings and the obvious connection to young Rafael, we believe we have identified a two-fold way to “give back”. FACT: every $50 raised = 1 full hour of care and reserch. Countless thousands of hours are needed to defeat childhood cancers but do not give up hope...every little bit helps!
This GoFundMe.com website has been be established in Rafael’s name as we go to battle this particular form of childhood cancer. Remarkably, this area of research is severely underfunded in the world. Armed with that knowledge, we know we have our work cut out for us.
May fortune favor the foolish; may the divine bless us with strength and courage to go about our work and get done what needs doing; and may God bless you with the grace, courage and love possessed by this smiling six-year old "Spiderman" named Rafael.
Please be generous. Your contributions will make an enormous and direct differernce today. Thank you.
Organizer
Scott O'Hanlon
Organizer
Huntington Beach, CA