August 2024 CRF Newsletter

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope and confidence"
– Helen Keller

A Message From our Founder, John "Gungie" Rivera

So heartbroken because of the passing of a Warrior whose smile brightened up even the London Sky. Jesselyn Silva, gained her angel wings this morning. Gained? Does any child want to “gain” their wings? She was a remarkable young warrior who bravely fought against DMG. Jesselyn’s courage and determination in the face of this relentless disease was inspirational. Her lively spirit touched the lives of everyone around her, and her memory will forever remain in our hearts.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who grieve Jesselyn. Jesselyn, your accomplishments inside and outside the boxing ring will forever inspire many. This tragedy reinforces our commitment to finding a cure for DIPG and DMG so that no child ever suffers, and families never have to endure such heartache.

Rest in peace, Jesselyn. Your memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved you. I will never stop working until a cure is found and will always speak of your legacy. I Will Always Love You 10!

Prepare for a memorable evening at our new gala event space, Cipriani Wall Street, NYC’s #1 rated venue.

This event unites celebrities, supporters of CRF, and D.I.P.G. warriors. It begins with a red carpet reception. Seats include hors d’oeuvres, a five-hour open bar, dinner, an award ceremony, and a moving video presentation. Additionally, there will be live and silent auctions with one-of-a-kind items and experiences.

The Gala will help raise money to support the clinical trials at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital.

August 24th is our Founder
John "Gungie" Rivera’s Birthday!

On behalf of everyone at CRF we’d like to wish our founder a happy birthday. John is one of the most passionate, determined, and caring individuals. 15 years ago, John’s life was changed forever when his son, Cristian, was diagnosed with D.I.P.G. John channeled his pain into his ambition to help other children and families suffering from D.I.P.G., making our foundation what it is today. Thank you for everything you do, John! We Love You 10!

From all of us at CRF, we wish you all a happy birthday. Without your support and gratitude, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish what we do here. Your dedication means the world to us. We love you 10!

Checking in with Nicole Puglisi

When Nicole Puglisi was first diagnosed with DIPG in January 2016, it came as a part of a shocking chain of events. After being involved in a car accident, Nicole received an MRI to examine her injuries. Along with it, doctors also discovered a tumor in her brainstem. Although she had no symptoms at the time, Nicole would later feel its effects almost exactly 2 years later. In the meantime, Nicole pushed to continue her college education with symptoms finally appearing during her final year of school. She recounts noticing facial numbness, excruciating headaches, and vision problems. Afterward, she began to pursue treatments, facing a challenging journey ahead.

To learn more about Nicole’s story, read the blog here!
cristianriverafoundation.org/checking-in-with-nicole-puglisi/

On September 14th this year, CRF Board Member Edgar Berlanga will be fighting Canelo Alvarez for the WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring super middleweight titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Edgar is the top-ranked fighter in the WBA’s super middleweight rankings and he signed a multi-fight deal with Matchroom to fight Canelo. Edgar, "The Chosen One", has 17 wins via knockout, with his last fight being a knockout win in February against Padraig McCrory.

He says, "This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I deserve to be here, and I’m going to shock the world and silence the critics by delivering a masterful performance and knocking out Canelo Alvarez."

Edgar will be wearing the CRF logo on his shorts during the fight as he always does; and we will proudly be rooting for his win against Canelo! We love you 10, Edgar!

Our angels are members of our community who have lost their difficult battles against D.I.P.G. They will always be a part of the CRF family and in sharing their experience with D.I.P.G. we hope to amplify the urgency to find a cure. We work in honor of our angels so that no other child will lose their life to D.I.P.G. again. Let us honor our June Angel birthdays and our June Angelversaries. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones. These angels will never be forgotten.

Highlights from the 14th Annual Celebrity Gala:

CRF’s Work and Mission:

Sincerely,
Cristian Rivera Foundation