Support Julio Medina's Fight Against Cancer

My Testimony: Battling Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer

My name is Julio Medina. On May 5th, I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. On June 16th, I underwent surgery to remove the mass, which meant losing 6 inches of my colon. After further examinations, my worst fears were confirmed — at just 33 years old, I was facing a fight for my life.

The news was devastating for me and my loved ones. Since then, I have been battling not only the toll on my physical health, but also the mental and emotional challenges that come with this journey. As of August 4th, I’ve begun chemotherapy, and my focus is on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping my faith in God, trusting that he will guide me through this.

Your prayers and support have been deeply felt, and they give me strength every single day. It’s not easy for me to share my struggle so openly, but I hope that by raising awareness, someone else in a similar situation might find hope and get the help they need.

In the restaurant and hospitality business, we are used to putting others first. But this battle has reminded me of what truly matters in life — family, self-love, and God.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed, or supported me in any way. The words you’ll read next are from my dear friend and boss, Maurice, who is speaking from the heart on my behalf.

Much Love,

Julio Medina

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My name is Maurice Dimarino, beverage director for Cohn Restaurant Group. Julio Medina joined my team as our Bar Development Manager this year. The moment I met Julio, I knew he was someone special. Not many people in our industry have the knowledge, passion, work ethic, and humility it takes to be a successful leader. Within a few months of working for CRG, he had inspired and developed many of our bar teams.

As he continues to fight and raise awareness of such a terrible cancer that we have in today’s world, along with so many others, he urges people to get screened. The humility in him still wants to look out for others. It just goes to show truly how good a person can be.

He unfortunately has been working for only a short time, so he doesn’t qualify for family emergency leave and is expected to be out of work until after he finishes his battle with this disease. During this time, he will endure not only medical bills but also personal bills that he will surely encounter as he fights this disease.

Please share with your network of friends and help us raise funds to assist Julio and his new wife, Quiana, during this challenging time.