Nathan Rowe is fighting for his life.

The 15-year-old is hospitalized in an isolation unit battling leukemia in Roseville.

To help The Ripon High sophomore a Gofundme account has been established with a goal of $100,000 to provide for his future medical care.

His dad Don Rowe is the outreach and discipleship pastor at Calvary Church in Ripon where he has worked with construction teams to build houses in Mexico for the poor. Nathan has always been by his side helping build the homes.

His dad points out that his son has a “compassionate heart for the homeless.”  He said Nathan will take out his wallet for anyone on the street asking for donations.

“One time we pulled up to a stop sign and he was sitting in the back seat and I heard the rear seat window go down – Nathan had found a homeless man standing by the curb and handed him some money,” his dad remembered.

Nathan has two brothers, Caleb, 18, and Mica, 13.

Nathan is a 4.0 student at Ripon High. He will be the focus of a fundraising dinner on Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Ripon Community Center.  The catered event is planned to bring in additional funds to help with his future medical care. Some 600 tickets have been printed to support the Nathan Rowe Medical Fund.

The catered dinner menu will include tri-tip, chicken and vegetables prepared by the Holt Catering Co. of Ripon at $25 a plate.  Tickets may be obtained at the Calvary Church office or at Schemper’s Hardware.  A bank account to help with Nathan’s care has also been set up at the Bank of Stockton under the name, “Nathan Rowe Medical Treatment Fund.”

Doctors are searching for a bone marrow donor for Nathan but one has yet to be found. The family said the search is continuing. 

There will be a dessert auction and raffle at the dinner to include a 7-day cruise, a MAC tool box and a weekend cabin giveaway.  Those tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.

Those wishing to make a donation at the Gofundme.com website may go to “Gofundme.com/NathanRowemedicaltreatmentfund.”