Daniel Martino, also known by his nickname Tito, is a beloved figure in Athens. Martino was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of Burkitt’s Lymphoma in 2020, and is about to undergo his third round of chemo.
Martino is an all around family man and an avid Cleveland Browns fan. Previously a long-term Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St., employee, he has called Athens home for a number of years.
Through Athens and other opportunities, Martino has formed close relationships with people that have been with him through this process.
“It kind of started out with the word ‘friendship,’” Jocelyn Probasco, a close friend of Martino, said. “And then we realized really quickly, he's just like a true blue guy like somebody that has your back in any situation.”
Martino has had a massive amount of support from an array of people, which has helped keep him afloat amid the pandemic.
“Knowing Daniel, I think that's part of the reason that the community is coming together so much for him, as far as they've done,” Probasco said. “I think it will just be a huge weight off his shoulders to know that he doesn't have to worry about some of the day to day expenses ... I just really hope that the community supporting him and coming together, both makes him feel loved and that it also brings him some relief as far as his expenses go.”
Although the pandemic has taken a huge toll on many people, kindness has prevailed when it came to helping Martino. A GoFundMe was set up in Martino’s name, and anyone can donate.
“The community at large has definitely got a huge heart in general,” Martino said. “Things have happened throughout the time, like giving. I mean, this pandemic shows a lot of it with different places and organizations … it just shows you how strong the community is here. So now to be on the receiving end of it is just mind blowing. I mean, some of the stuff with GoFundMe – I'll see somebody’s name and I'm like ‘Oh my god, I haven't talked to that person or seen that person in forever.’”
A raffle containing different goods from Athens businesses and more is in the planning stages for the future.
More things are on the horizon for helping out Martino, but for now, anyone and everyone is encouraged to help if they can. Any form or amount of help is still help, for in times like these, Martino believes it is important to realize no one is alone and that coming together as a whole is important.
“Helping Tito, helping anybody like Tito, helping anyone, helps lift everyone,” Meredith Jensen, a friend of Martino, said. “It's not just our man Tito, it's so many other people in this community that have found themselves between a rock and a hard place with a pandemic surrounding them. When everything just feels like it's crushing and falling down on you, that's the time to remember that there are other people out there to lift those rocks off of you, and we as other people have to be able to shoulder the burden for each other. No man is an island.”
