The morning of Saturday September 17th, I drove for three hours to Scranton, Pennsylvania for Aimee Dickey Childhood Cancer Walk/Fun Day put on by Aimee’s Army. It was a great event. After I left, I went home and changed and then drove an hour away from my home to Long Island, where Valentina Bravin’s friends held a benefit in her honor. Valentina is currently battling DIPG and she is such a beautiful girl with an amazing family. I did a lot of traveling that day, but it was absolutely worth it because I got the chance to support two DIPG families in their quest for a cure. Cristian was with me that day too and he sent me so many signs—too many to name—that showed me why I was supposed to be at both events. It felt good to donate to both events, as well as give Valentina’s family sports memorabilia to be auctioned off. I’m glad I was able to be there with so many other parents, families and friends of DIPG kids and angels. Once again they reminded me how important it is to be in this fight.

John “Gungie” Rivera
Forever Cristian’s Daddy