ROW-A-THON
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UPCOMING EVENT
JOIN US FOR ROW-A-THON 2024!
Welcome to FCI Caring, where every action is dedicated to the well-being of older, vulnerable adults. Through private donations and impactful fundraising events, we keep our community's seniors safe and thriving in the comfort of their own homes.
As a vendor, your $400 vendor contribution will directly support initiatives for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, recipient of the year, AJ De La Torre’s, and his ongoing battle with brain cancer, as well as our efforts to provide essential resources for underfunded seniors.
By becoming a vendor, you're not only showcasing your business but also standing with us to support our underfunded senior community, firefighters, and families like AJ’s who need our help now more than ever. Join us on November 23rd and be a part of this incredible cause!
Let’s row together, make an impact, and show that when it comes to helping those in need, FCI Caring and our community are all in.
Contact Riley at: (760) 840-6776,
Email: rprietto@fcicaring.org for additional information or event inquiries.
Event Details:
- Date: NOVEMBER 23rd, 2024
- Time: Registration begins at 8am
- Location: Crossfit Trifecta, 2588 Progress St. Ste 2, Vista, CA, 92081
- Registration Deadline: November 15, 2024
Who does your donations help:
- Underfunded Seniors, Veterans and their families in the San Diego communities
- Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN)
It is their mission to assist firefighters and EMS providers and their immediate families diagnosed with cancer by providing badge-to-badge support, training, and guidance.
They are all about doing it TOGETHER. They provide comfort, strength, and hope by sharing their own experiences with the devastating effects of cancer. They educate fire/EMS members about the importance of cancer screenings and early detection. They promote an understanding that cancer does not have to be faced alone.
Since 2005 the nonprofit 501(c)3 Firefighter Cancer Support Network has provided assistance and one on one mentoring to thousands of firefighters and their family members who’ve been diagnosed with cancer. To date they have assisted over 11,000 firefighters nationwide. They also provide extensive firefighter cancer awareness and prevention training nationwide free of charge to any agency that may request it. One of their mottos for the fire service is ”You fight fire, we fight cancer”.
- Anthony “AJ” De La Torre
AJ is a 16 y.o WARRIOR who has been battling brain cancer since 2017. He’s been in remission and relapsed multiple times. It has spread to the lining in his brain and spinal cord and yet, this young man keeps a positive attitude. His response to his parents when the latest MRI showed 5 new spots was, “It’s ok. We’ve fought this before, we can do it again.”
AJ’s story is extensive. Whose wouldn’t be with 7 years in the fight? He’s had multiple rounds of high dose chemo, stem cell treatments, and alternative treatments. The treatments wreaked havoc on his kidneys and he needed dialysis, not once, but twice.
In January of 2024 he had a seizure that was long enough to call 911. He became responsive during transport, but before they reached the hospital he had another, longer seizure that lasted about 25 min. This one was worse. They intubated him and put him in a medically induced coma. He remained in the PICU for 75 days. Even when they took him off the meds to allow him to wake up, it took him 2 weeks to fully wake. Because of his fragile state, he was not given chemo during all that time.
AJ made it home, despite what doctors feared. He is on oxygen and is rebuilding his immune system, so he doesn’t make it out many places at the moment. Instead of sulking, AJ prefers to build Legos and make stop animation movies with his creations. He also LOVES Star Wars and drawing. He has even donated some of his art work to help raise money for kids fighting cancer. Talk about heart.
Many of AJ’s treatments, especially the alternative ones, are not covered by insurance. It can get expensive. But his family works hard to make it work. AJ has one younger sister, Gi, who is 11. Mom, Carolina, is a nurse. Dad, Ricky, is LAPD. Their careers are all about serving others. Their lives are about serving their family. It is their turn to be served and it’s our opportunity and our honor to be the ones serving them.
Please join us on November 23rd to help raise funds to take care of this family.
