Little man battles big disease

GH youth hopes he can donate $10,000 toward Relay for Life event

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

Joshua Alfaro just turned 12, but he is already making an impact on the fight against cancer.

Alfaro is a leukemia survivor who completed 3 1/2 years of treatment last April. He was a guest speaker at the Relay for Life at Goodman Middle School in Gig Harbor last year and plans to bring something extra to the table this June — a $10,000 donation for cancer research.

“His goal was to raise $10,000 this year,” said his mother, Darice Alfaro. “He has raised a little over $1,000 so far.”

Alfaro is selling coupon books he made possible by soliciting local businesses in the area — mainly food establishments.

“My dad drove me around and we mainly went to food places,” he said “When you think about it, you don’t always do movies once a week. But people always get food.”

Darice said Josh started in January by writing a letter for local businesses.

“Josh went in by himself and told them his story,” she said. “The businesses were asked to make a donation to Relay for Life along with the coupons. He was great — he took notes and did all the follow-up himself.”

Office Depot donated the labor and printing for the coupon books, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward Relay for Life.

The books are on sale at Cutters Point Coffee in Uptown Gig Harbor and at Curves on Judson Street. Joshua also will be selling the books at Harbor Greens on a periodic basis.