Emilio Nares Foundation Announces “Emilio’s Ride Along Campaign” Benefiting Children Battling Cancer In Southern California

The Emilio Nares Foundation (ENF) invites the San Diego community to participate in a month long Ride Along Campaign in March, benefitting children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

ENF is a nonprofit organization helping low-income families navigate their child’s journey with cancer. Over the last 18 years, ENF has traveled over one million miles and served over 4,000 children across Southern California. The Ride Along Campaign will consist of ongoing fundraising efforts to raise critical funds for the Ride with Emilio Program including a Corporate Ride Along event on Friday, March 26.

Emilio’s Ride Along provides children with cancer the chance to survive and receive the life-saving medical treatment they desperately need. This year, with a goal of raising $100,000, ENF challenges the San Diego community to step up and help bridge the gap in funding due to COVID-19. These funds will primarily support ENF’s flagship program, Ride with Emilio. Despite these challenges of the past year, ENF has persevered and continued to provide services, safely, for these families in need.

“The Emilio Nares Foundation has been helping families dealing with the unimaginable, their child’s cancer diagnosis, for more than 18 years,” said Karen Terra, President and CEO of the Emilio Nares Foundation. “Even in the middle of a pandemic, our ENF team continues to provide vital rides to and from the hospital, ensuring that no child ever has to miss a cancer treatment due to lack of transportation. We are grateful for our donors and corporate partners who continue to help make this possible.”

ENF understands that not all children with cancer are able to get to their treatments. Transporting immuno-compromised children safely is also a challenge, but ENF ensures the safety of each ride-a-long with proper precautions such as masks, face shields, disinfecting vehicles and transporting one family at a time. Emilio’s Ride Along Campaign safely brings the foundation one ride closer to ensuring that no child misses their cancer treatments due to lack of transportation.

Corporate Ride Along Day

As part of Emilio’s Ride Along Campaign, ENF is holding a Corporate Ride Along Day on Friday, March 26. On this day, members of the ENF team will personally stop by each corporate partner’s office to thank their sponsors for their contribution to this amazing cause. At each stop, sponsors will add their logo to the foundation’s vans, providing a visual representation of the collaborative efforts of the community in helping ENF reaching their goal of raising $100,000. This year’s event includes a Corporate Ride Along with several partners already joining in the fight including Geico, Livestrong, Bob’s Furniture, Local Media San Diego, and Pacific Life Foundation.

All proceeds raised from Emilio’s Ride Along Campaign will go directly to the transportation program serving children battling cancer. To date, the foundation has raised over a third of the critical funds they need to reach their goal, but they still need the continued support of the community.

To learn more about Emilio’s Ride Along, become a corporate partner or create your own fundraising page, visit here. To learn more about the Emilio Nares Foundation, visit here, or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About Emilio Nares Foundation

The Emilio Nares Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps families navigate their child’s journey with cancer and provides programs to support a child’s best chance of recovery. Founded in 2003 by Diane and Richard Nares, after their son Emilio Nares lost his brave battle with to cancer at only five years old, the Emilio Nares Foundation provides free services for families and patients through one of the most difficult and sometimes devastating time of their lives. The flagship Ride With Emilio pediatric cancer patient transportation program ensures no child misses a life-saving cancer treatment due to lack of transportation in three Southern California counties, including San Diego County, Imperial County, and Orange County. For more information, visit here.

Stay healthy, San Diego!