Interview with John “Gungie” Rivera, Founder of the Cristian Rivera Foundation
John “Gungie” Rivera, Founder of the Cristian Rivera Foundation
Tell us about what prompted you to create the foundation.
I started the Cristian Rivera Foundation because no parent should ever have to bury their child, especially due to a devastating disease like Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). After losing my six-year-old son, Cristian, to this rare brain stem tumor in 2009, I made a promise to dedicate my life to finding a cure. Watching Cristian suffer as DIPG slowly took away his ability to walk, talk, eat, and move was heartbreaking. I knew I had to do something to ensure no other family would endure such unimaginable grief.