Twin brothers from Hope Valley use wrestling to help cope with parents’ deaths

RICHMOND, R.I. (WLNE) — Twin brothers from Hope Valley are dealing with the sudden loss of both their parents by bonding through sport.

Aidan and Evan Fahlman are inseparable; the 17-year-old Chariho High School wrestlers have been through a lot together, rising to the top of the ranks in Rhode Island.

“When I go to the gym, he goes to the gym,” Evan said. “And when I go to wrestling practice, he goes to wrestling practice.”

But the trials and tribulations they’ve faced on the wrestling mat pale in comparison to what they’ve had to deal with at home.

Aidan and Evan lost their father in a fire back in 2023, and just a year later their mother died suddenly of leukemia.

“You lose a parent and you’re like, you’ll never lose the other one,” Aidan said. “You can’t, it’s not possible, you need them.”

Ed and Roxanne Cekala have known the boys since they were kids and knew they had to step up and help.

“Anybody in this situation should have a group for support,” Ed said. “It didn’t feel real for us, I can only imagine how the boys felt.”

The couple started a fundraiser to provide some financial support for the twins, who are currently living with their grandfather.

“Just to try, to try to raise some money to help them with college, or a car or whatever they need,” Roxanne said. “We love them, that’s why we couldn’t just sit back and not do anything.”

Even after all they’ve been through, Aidan and Evan have maintained an optimistic outlook.

They said their mom was always active, adding she was known for her amazing home cooking.

It was the boys’ dad that sparked their love for wrestling, which has been a major outlet for them.

Both hope to compete at the next level, with Aidan setting his goals high hoping for a chance to wrestle at Iowa.

“[Wrestling has] taught me a lot of lessons on how to face things, not to give up,” Aidan said. “You always gotta fight.”

But more importantly, the sport has strengthened their bond.

“We were always close before,” Aidan said “But wrestling made us like, I love this kid.”

The twins said they’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the community.

The fundraiser event is set for this Saturday at Sons of Liberty in South Kingstown.

A GoFundMe has also been set up.