My name is Tommy Gager, and I’m starting this fundraiser to support the family of one of my closest friends, Julio Cisneros, who suddenly passed away yesterday, leaving behind his wife, Stella, and their three beautiful children.

If you’ve spent any time around the junior disc golf community, chances are you’ve crossed paths with the Cisneros family, and if you ever met Julio, chances are you remembered him.

Julio was the kind of person who showed up for everyone. He wasn’t just there cheering for his own kids. He was encouraging, supporting, and celebrating all of the juniors around him. My daughter MJ was fortunate to be one of those kids. Julio was genuinely one of her biggest fans, and he always made sure she knew how much he believed in and loved her.

His children have already accomplished incredible things in our sport. His daughter Irene won the FJ15 World Championship at Junior Worlds this year in Pittsburgh. Marcelino has stood on the podium multiple times at Junior Worlds, and his youngest, Beni, was battling for a World Title of his own this year.

These kids are part of the future of disc golf, and now their world has changed in a way no child should ever have to experience.

I’m asking the disc golf community to do what I’ve seen it do so many times before: come together and take care of one of our own.

I want to make sure Irene, Marcelino, and Beni are still able to chase every dream Julio spent so much time supporting. Their disc golf dreams should NEVER have to end because they lost their dad.

Julio was one of my closest friends, and I made sure he knew how much his friendship meant to me. I’m incredibly grateful for that today, but I’m heartbroken knowing he is gone.

Stella now has an unimaginable road ahead of her as she navigates life without her husband while raising their three children. She and the kids need their community around them now more than ever.

Every donation, no matter the amount, will help support the Cisneros family during this incredibly difficult time and help give Stella one less thing to worry about as they begin navigating what comes next.

If you’re unable to donate, you can still make a tremendous difference. Please share this fundraiser with your local disc golf club, tournament community, Facebook groups, friends, family, and anyone else who may have crossed paths with Julio and his family.

Julio spent so much of his life showing up for these kids.

Now it’s our turn to show up for his.

Please help us surround Stella, Irene, Marcelino, and Beni with the same love and support Julio gave so freely to everyone around him. ❤️

Stella, Julio’s widow, will be the beneficiary and has been added in GoFundMe so she can access the funds directly. The funds will be used to help support Stella and the kids as they navigate life without Julio.