Teen Raises Money To Help Soldier Battling Cancer

A Jacksonville teenager moved by the story of a young Callahan soldier who is fighting cancer said she had to do something to help, and she did.

After serving two tours of duty in Iraq, where he survived several attacks, U.S. Army Sgt. Casey Watters is at home in Callahan with his family, battling a rare form of cancer that doctors found after he was wounded in Iraq.

Since the diagnosis, Watters and his family have been fighting an uphill battle that's not only physical but also mental and financial.
Rachel Fallin, a 17-year-old from the Arlington area, said she was brought to tears when she first heard Watters' story.

"When I saw his story and started crying, I was like, 'I have to do something,'" Fallin said.

She said she did all she could to raise money for the Army sergeant, and on Monday she met him for the first time.

"I think it's wonderful because she's reaching out to people she doesn't even know, and that's something special to me," said the teen's mother, Christy Fallin.

Fallin said she was amazed at the support she received to help the family in need.

"It's just been great. People have been really supportive and giving to me so I can give to them," she said.

"I just can't say enough. This is awesome. You guys took care of us, and you took initiative by yourself. You don't see that a lot," Watters said to the teen.

The two said Monday's meeting is not going to be the last -- Fallin and Watters said they would stay in contact with each other as long as they could.

Next week, Watters is going to visit Fallin's school and talk with the kids who helped raise the donated money.