Robert “Rocky” Watts, raised $300 to fight cancer.

By Michelle R Davis
Camden Bureau

Robert “Rocky” Watts is only 7 years old, but her understands what it’s like to lose someone he loves.

In August 1990, Rocky’s fathers, Douglas – the man who nicknamed him because his son was “rock solid” – died of cancer at age 48.

Now Rocky wants to give other children with sick parents more time to spend together.

Through a “Hop for Leukemia” program at Blaney Elementary School, where Rocky is in second grade, he raise more than $300 to fight the disease.

“This is so that a little boy or little girl with a father with cancer or a mother with cancer can stay with them longer than my dad stayed with me,” Rocky said.

Rocky convinced his family, members of his church and neighbors to sponsor him as he hopped 243 times in two minutes, alternating legs.

“This is all very personal to Rocky,” said Blaney Principal Rose Sheheen. “He takes a very mature approach to it for a child of this age. He makes something good out of something bad,”

Sheheen said Rocky raised the most money for leukemia in the school.

Rocky’s mother, Leatha Watts, said when her son brought home the information about the fundraiser, he didn’t know what leukemia was.

“I told him it was a cancer of the blood,” she said. “And he said, ‘Well if that’s cancer, why don’t we try to get some money to give to the cancer society?'”

His original goal was $50, but after the first night of calling friends and relatives, Rocky had already racked up $178 in donation, his mother said.

“people said how could you look into his face and say no?” she said.

By the next day, Rockies calculations climbed over $300.

“I told him that was enough. I was going to have to collect all this money,” his mother said.

Rocky’s father wasn’t the only person in his family afflicted with cancer. Rocky’s sister Diane, now 31, had a cancerous growth in her leg when she was 14. Since being treated the cancer has not recurred, Watts said.

The money helped Rocky feel that he was fighting the disease that touched his family, his mother said.

“It encourages a lot,” she said. “He said that he knew the other children would be able to keep their parents longer.”

These days, a lot of people are proud of Rocky – his teachers, his family, members of his church.

Rocky himself seems excited to receive his “hop” prize – a bookbag,

When asked what his father would have thought of his fundraising efforts, Rocky grinned and said “He’d be pretty proud.”