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Top Chef Colorado

Top Chef Colorado’s Fatima Ali has terminal cancer. A fundraiser will ‘help her get the most out of’ life

Fatima Ali, Top Chef Colorado, Restaurant Wars
Fatima Ali during Top Chef Colorado's "Restaurant Wars" episode 1508. (Photo by Paul Trantow/Bravo)

by Andy Dehnart 26 Oct. 2018 | 8:38 am

Earlier this month, Top Chef Colorado contestant and fan favorite winner Fatima Ali wrote an essay for Bon Appétit titled, “I’m a Chef With Terminal Cancer. This Is What I’m Doing with the Time I Have Left.”

The headline says it all: After being diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma last fall, she was declared cancer-free earlier this year. But cancer has returned.

In her essay, Fatima writes:

“The cancer cells my doctors believed had vanished are back with a vengeance in my left hip and femur bone. My oncologist has told me that I have a year to live, with or without the new chemotherapy regimen. I was looking forward to being 30, flirty, and thriving. Guess I have to step it up on the flirting. I have no time to lose.”

Fatima is 29; she’ll turn 30 on April 9.

Also in the essay, she wrote:

“…They think I’m brave, but really, I’m not. I’m scared. I suspect I won’t last very long. There’s a faint feeling deep inside my gut like a rumble of passing air, ever expanding and filling slowly until, one day, I’ll pop.

Until then, every day is an opportunity for me to experience something new. I used to dream of owning my own restaurant. Now I have an ever growing list of the ones I need to visit.”

A fundraiser to help Fatima live her life fully

Fatima Ali, Top Chef Colorado

Top Chef Colorado contestant Fatima Ali (Photo by Bravo)

Fatima’s fellow Top Chef Colorado contestant Adrienne Cheatham started a fundraiser to help her friend.

“Her talent, smile, energy, and amazing personality are all reasons that she became our fan favorite,” Adrienne wrote, and explained the reason for the fundraiser like this:

“Let’s join together in helping Fati experience all that life has to offer this year. She has so bravely and courageously shared so much of herself with us, inspiring so many to keep fighting and reminding us to appreciate life. Let’s help her get the most out of the life she has been given!”

She set a goal of $150,000 via GoFundMe.

In 15 days, 1,708 people have given just over half that amount.

The page says that “Fati will receive 100% of money raised, any money she does not use will be donated to the Sarcoma Foundation of America to help find a cure for this rare cancer.”

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Top Chef’s Fatima Ali has died from cancer at 29

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about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in Vulture, Pacific Standard, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association who serves on its board of directors, Andy, 41, also directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. Learn more about reality blurred and Andy.

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reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.

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