Almost every golfer has a philanthropic side, and so does Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann. He is known for his game on the greens; however, he should be more famous for his work outside of golf. Rafita Calderón is the cousin of Joaquin Niemann; Felipe Calderon, the father of Rafita, is a first cousin of Niemann’s mother. In 2020, she was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare neurological disorder where a child’s muscles become weaker and smaller.

It is the leading monogenic cause of death in infants, according to the NCBI. The cure? A gene therapy injection called Zolgensma. The cost? $2.1 million for a one-time shot. What’s more, the healthcare system in Chile refused to cover the cost of the injection. It is also worth noting that Novartis, the company that manufactures the injection, announced that 100 kids will get the injection for free based on doctors’s recommendations.

“When they told me [Rafita] was going to have a really bad disease, I didn’t realize what it was,” Niemann said. “I didn’t put much attention on it, and then a couple days go on, they tell us the bad news, that this medicine was this much money… I was in my mind going crazy, ‘What can I do to help out?’” He also emphasized that it was imperative to get the injection as soon as possible, as the earlier the injection was administered, the better.

Niemann then went on a mission to help her cousin. “I grew up with Felipe,’’ Niemann said. “We are close. He helped me a lot. He came and watched me at some golf tournaments. They’ve been so nice to me since I grew up, since I was a kid, so I just feel good by helping back.’’ Niemann raised over $2 million to help her cousin. He also pledged his 2021 RSM Classic and Mayakoba earnings to the cause, which were $152,450 and $65,263 respectively. In addition to this, he also donated $5,000 per bird and $10,000 per eagle, raising $90,000.

The family also started a GoFundMe page to raise awareness about the disease and help his cousin. The Chilean was understandably eager to get the story out to not just the media but also his fellow pros since they are also involved in charity work. Other pros like Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler wore pins on their hats to raise awareness about the cause.

But did the golfer and his family succeed in accomplishing their missions?

Did Joaquin Niemann succeed and help Rafita Calderón?

The GoFundMe page for Rafita received $210,870 in donations. Many people left comments praying for the good health of the baby. Apart from Niemann, his family has also championed the cause on television, and there is a strong campaign to raise awareness about Rafita and her illness. It will warm your heart to know that Niemann was successful in his mission, raising more than $2 million for his cousin.

She got her injection in early February of 2021. Niemann was over the moon after this happened. “It’s been amazing the last couple days. He got the medicine a couple days ago, and now he’s out of the hospital and with his father [and] is feeling good. It’s amazing to see how much money we raised in such a short period. Now that we’ve got it done, it feels relief. We’ve got to keep fighting for Rafita. I just can’t wait to see him come with me and maybe follow me a couple holes. That will be nice, one of my dreams,’’ said the golfer, as per Sports Illustrated. 

The efforts of Niemann certainly are commendable and show his caliber as a man. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and pray for Rafita Calderón’s health and well-being.

What do you think of Niemann’s efforts? Let us know in the comments!