A Sellersville man is rallying support to help save the life of the mentor who helped shape his future more than five decades ago.
In 1973, Charlie E. Sharpe III, then a 27-year-old high school shop teacher, became the first volunteer mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Willingboro, N.J., when he was paired with 12-year-old John Wilson.
What began as a simple mentorship grew into a lifelong bond that has spanned more than 52 years.
Today, that relationship is being tested as Sharpe, now in his late 70s, fights for his life at HCA Kendall Hospital near Miami, FL, after suffering a medical emergency while on vacation in the Caribbean.
Wilson said Sharpe was a constant presence throughout his life.
“There isn’t a decision of consequence in my life that Charlie hasn’t somehow been a part of,” Wilson said. “When I played youth sports — he was there. When I graduated and went to college — he was there. Tragedy, marriage, divorce — he was there for all of it.”
A mentorship that lasted a lifetime
In what is believed to have been the first Big-Little pairing in the local program’s history, the relationship was built through everyday moments rather than grand gestures.
Sharpe would bring Wilson along on errands, teach him how to repair and build things, and help guide him through life’s biggest decisions.
As the years passed, Sharpe became a trusted advisor through milestones that included college, career decisions, marriage, and raising a family. He also became the godfather to Wilson’s son.
The pair remained close into adulthood, speaking nearly every week and visiting each other several times a year. Just last summer, Wilson traveled to help Sharpe build a workshop in his basement, where Sharpe planned to handcraft new kitchen cabinets for his home.
Sharpe has also spent years serving his community as a volunteer EMT with the New Vernon Volunteer Fire Department, an example of service that Wilson said inspired him to give back as well. Wilson later served more than 12 years on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Bucks County, including a term as board president.
Medical crisis far from home
On Feb. 7, 2026, Sharpe collapsed shortly after arriving in Saint Maarten for a long-planned vacation. He was taken to a local intensive care unit where doctors diagnosed an acute brain bleed in the right frontal lobe.
His condition quickly became more complicated. Sharpe suffered multiple seizures, developed sepsis from an E. coli infection, and experienced episodes of atrial fibrillation, according to family members.
Because local ICU resources were limited and insurance declined to cover an air ambulance, Sharpe’s family paid $35,000 out of pocket for a medical evacuation to HCA Kendall Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center near Miami. Wilson personally covered that cost.
More than three weeks later, Sharpe remains hospitalized in Florida as doctors work through a series of medical challenges.
Recent MRI scans show he is still experiencing small seizures, and doctors have identified a hole in his heart that must be closed. Imaging also revealed an undefined mass on his brain, which could be an abscess, tumor, or abnormal cluster of blood vessels. A biopsy will be needed to determine the cause once his other conditions are stabilized.
Sharpe has already undergone an IVC procedure to address blood clots and reduce stroke risk. Doctors are hoping to close the heart defect in the coming days before moving forward with further testing.
If surgery is required, his oncologist has recommended a transfer to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, which would require another medical transport.
Meanwhile, Sharpe’s wife, Linda, remains in Florida to stay by his side as he undergoes continuous treatment.
Community support growing
To date, the family has paid approximately $65,000 in out-of-pocket medical and transportation costs, and expenses continue to rise as Sharpe remains hospitalized far from home.
Wilson said supporting Sharpe through the crisis feels like a natural extension of the relationship that helped shape his life.
“He has always been there for me,” Wilson said. “So it’s natural for me to be there for him now. There is so much more we have to do together. We are far from done.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to help cover medical care, transportation, and lodging costs for the family.
Donations can be made online at:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bring-charlie-home-medical-transport-recovery-fund
Organizers say the story reflects the lasting impact mentorship can have — not just for a few months or years, but for a lifetime
