I created this fundraiser to rally around my close friend Mark Rivera and his family after Mark received a devastating diagnosis of aggressive Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) just before Thanksgiving. The news hit everyone like a thunderbolt, leaving Mark and his loved ones reeling in disbelief.

Mark has spent the last several weeks in the hospital enduring powerful rounds of induction chemotherapy to fight this fast-moving cancer. He’s finally back home with his parents and siblings for the holidays, cherishing every moment together, but the hardest part of his battle is still ahead. For the next 18–24 months, Mark will face repeated hospital admissions for intensive chemo cycles, regular lumbar punctures, bone marrow tests, scans, and constant monitoring. The side effects are brutal—exhaustion, pain, isolation, and the ever-present risk of infection—and they take a profound toll on both body and spirit.

Even though Mark is a fighter who tries his hardest to keep up with his college classes and stay connected to the things he loves, this disease doesn’t follow a predictable schedule. Unexpected hospital stays, severe fatigue, and a compromised immune system make everyday life incredibly difficult and put enormous pressure on the entire family. On top of the emotional weight, the financial challenges are mounting fast—medical bills, medications, travel to treatment centers, lost work hours for his parents, and countless other expenses that come with long-term cancer care.

This fundraiser is here to lighten that load, so Mark can focus on getting stronger and his family can stay by his side without the added worry of financial strain.

I’m reaching out on behalf of an amazing son, brother, and friend. Mark is thoughtful, quick with a smile, and the kind of person who always puts others first, even now.

Any donation, no matter the amount, will directly help ease the burden for Mark and his family during this frightening and uncertain time. If giving isn’t possible right now, sharing this page or sending prayers and encouraging messages means just as much.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your compassion and support. Your kindness is a bright light for them in the midst of this storm.

With deepest gratitude, Alex