Together, We've Made a Difference
Sarah: 23/24 Row-a-thon
Sarah is one of those salt-of-the-earth kind of people. She is a 34 y.o wife and mom. She has been married to her hubby, Jeremy for 9 years and they have 2 boys, ages 7 and 6. Sarah works for her local university helping to run a program for students with intellectual disabilities that allows them to access the college campus. She spends her limited spare time with friends and family going to movies or catching up over dinner.
Look around at any incredible mom you know, that's Sarah. She was diagnosed last December with stage 3 HER2+ invasive ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer that had spread to a lymph node in her left underarm. She has completed chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation and is currently undergoing immunotherapy. Again, look around at the awesome moms and wives in your life. Sarah could be any one of them.
Daniel: 23/24 Row-a-thon
Daniel's battle started early June with vomiting and blurred vision. By Aug 7th, he was having surgery to remove a brain tumor. He has 30 days of radiation followed by chemo to look forward to. Daniel is one of those hearts of gold kind of guys. He likes to play basketball, football, and Nintendo Switch. Oh yeah, did I mention? He’s 11. His favorite subject in school is math, while English he’d be happy to live without. He hides his favorite snacks in his baby blanket and if that doesn’t shout sweet and innocent, I don’t know what does. He has an older brother (Ethan) in high school so mom and dad are balancing between Ethan’s activities, Daniel’s treatments way down at Rady’s, and their jobs. This time, take a look at your kids. If you don’t have any, look at your nieces and nephews or your friend’s kids. They could be Daniel. What he is fighting, they could be fighting
Dakota: '22 Row-a-thon
Dakota is a sweet 5 year old girl with a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Like any typical 5 y.o, she lives for family adventures like camping and hiking, going to the beach, playing soccer, and dolls. She also enjoys being a “mommy” to her dogs and chickens. She really loves her chickens! She lives for crafts and also likes to put a smile on her friend’s and family’s faces with silly notes. Dakota is the youngest of 5 kids, 4 of which are still at home and one of which has autism.
Anthony “AJ” De La Torre '23 Row-a-thon
AJ, a 16-year-old warrior, has been battling brain cancer since 2017, facing multiple relapses despite periods of remission. The cancer has now spread to his brain and spinal cord, yet AJ remains resilient, telling his parents after a recent MRI revealed five new spots, “It’s okay. We’ve fought this before, we can do it again.”
Over the past seven years, AJ has undergone countless rounds of high-dose chemo, stem cell treatments, and alternative therapies. These treatments have taken a toll on his kidneys, requiring dialysis twice. In January 2024, AJ suffered severe seizures that led to a 75-day stay in the PICU, including time in a medically induced coma. Despite the odds, AJ made it home and is now focusing on rebuilding his strength and immune system.
AJ’s spirit shines through in his love for building Legos, making stop-motion movies, drawing, and his passion for Star Wars. He’s even donated his artwork to support other kids fighting cancer.
AJ’s family—his mom, Carolina, a nurse; his dad, Ricky, an LAPD officer; and his younger sister, Gi, who is 11—dedicate their lives to serving others. Now, it’s our turn to support them. Many of AJ’s treatments, especially alternative ones, are not covered by insurance, placing a significant financial burden on the family.
