Todd Tharen, an athletic presence in Pacific Palisades as coach, teacher and trainer, has been diagnosed with colon cancer. Tharen is scheduled for surgery this week. While the prognosis is good because the disease was caught early, he will need to take a couple of months for recovery.
Some of his medical expenses are covered by insurance, but not all.
Residents wrote “with the holidays rapidly approaching, now is a beautiful time for our community to rally around Coach Tharen and his family and support them through this difficult time.”
The organizers are asking people to donate and promise that “your donation will be used wisely and for the sole purpose of Coach Todd’s recovery and his family care.”
They are also requesting get-well notes from families and kids sent to Tharen. They may be mailed to Coach Todd, c/o Calvary Christian School, 701 Palisades Drive, Pacific Palisades, Ca. 90272
For more than 16 years, Tharen has taught fitness classes at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA. For over a decade, he has been the Calvary Christian School’s football coach.
Tharen started Coach Todd’s Football Academy, where he teaches football and athlete fundamentals to local youths.
Parents say that as a coach, he’s taught kids that more than winning, what it is to be a leader and to have courage and add, “His positive outlook, his grit and his determination are all attributes of this amazing father, husband and friend.”
He also trains clients and teaches classes at the Bel Air Bay Club.
To donate to the Tharen Medical and Recover page, click here.