The late Jose Fernandez starred for the Miami Marlins on the field and contributed to the community off of it.
Fernandez passed away suddenly on early Sunday morning in a boating accident. Since then, tributes have poured in from his teammates and opponents around the game. The 24-year old was beloved by the game's best and he also was an important member of the South Florida community.
Back in 2015, Fernandez took part in a challenge for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease. This was just one of many causes the right-hander was involved in over the years.
Pledge to Strike Out ALS with @JDFernandez16 and the @marlinsmlb and #ChallengeALS http://t.co/FKDXR8Y0mR pic.twitter.com/ifetobkfBx — ALSFlorida (@ALSFlorida) June 3, 2015
Among his other charitable ventures, Fernandez was an active member of the Live Like Bella Childhood Cancer Foundation. Bella Rodriguez-Torres passed away in 2013 due to Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. Her family started the foundation in her honor and as a tribute to the way Bella lived her life before her tragic passing. The foundation accepts donations that go towards research and support for families stricken with childhood cancer.
Fernandez was a member of the board for the foundation and one of his last tweets was a reference to the cause. While many athletes simply put their names on charitable causes, Fernandez made sure to keep Bella's memory alive and her foundation moving forward.
Local
join the team...make a difference! #livelikebella https://t.co/ctQyOp0lYn — JoseDFernandez (@JDFernandez16) September 3, 2016
During Sunday's press conference, Marlins president David Samson brought up Fernandez's passion for the game. Many have referenced Fernandez's work ethic while paying tribute to him. Fernandez will undoubtedly be remembered for his exciting play, but he also will be remembered for what he did for others.
Those wishing to learn more about the foundation may visit LiveLikeBella.org.
