This is not a charity campaign. It is a campaign to support dedication, discipline, and a historic athletic pursuit.

Ralf Étienne is on track to become Haiti’s first-ever Winter Paralympian, competing in alpine skiing on the road to the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Cortina, Italy, taking place March 6–15, 2026. He is doing so not as a symbolic figure, but as a serious athlete training, racing, and qualifying at the international level.

Ralf’s journey did not begin in winter sport.

He is a survivor of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, where he lost his left leg. In the aftermath of that tragedy, Ralf made a defining decision: his life would be grounded in purpose, service, and perseverance. With the help of an orthopedic surgeon who traveled to Haiti after the earthquake, Ralf came to the United States, where he pursued his education and rebuilt his future.

Since then, Ralf has lived a life marked by consistency and responsibility. He earned degrees in economics, management, and globalization, later graduating from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, one of the nation’s top business programs. Today, he works as an investment banking associate, maintaining a demanding professional career alongside elite athletic training.

At the same time, Ralf has remained deeply committed to Haiti. Through humanitarian work and nonprofit leadership, he has helped rebuild homes after earthquakes, replace hundreds of roofs following devastating hurricanes, run medical treatment programs, and support churches and children’s centers across the country. His pursuit of sport has never replaced service; it exists alongside it.

Ralf’s athletic path is defined by the same discipline. He trains year-round across Europe and is currently racing within the Swiss adaptive ski system, one of the most competitive environments in the world. He is actively competing in international races during the 2025–2026 qualification window, where results earned over the next year will determine eligibility for the Paralympic Games. This period is decisive, and support during this window directly impacts his ability to remain competitive.

Elite winter sport requires sustained financial support, particularly for athletes representing countries without established winter sport infrastructure. This campaign exists not because of a lack of effort, but because access to training, competition, and equipment is essential at this level.

Funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward:

Every contribution directly supports Ralf’s ability to train, race, and compete on the international stage.

Ralf’s pursuit carries significance beyond his own career. Haiti has never been represented at the Winter Paralympics. His presence would expand what is imaginable for athletes from the Caribbean and other underrepresented regions in winter and adaptive sport.

This is an invitation to stand behind an athlete who has already done the hard part and continues to do it every day.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

All funds raised through this campaign will be paid directly to Ralf Étienne to support his training and competition expenses through the 2026 Paralympic qualification period.

Ralf Étienne: In His Own Words:

Ralf Étienne: Featured in The Wall Street Journal:

https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/meet-the-bofa-investment-banker-vying-to-represent-haiti-in-the-winter-paralympics-ee707589?st=QM9J9z&reflink=article_copyURL_share