Hi everyone,

My name is Alex DeRenzis, and I’m fundraising for my cousins, Luca and Lorenza Montenero, and their three beautiful children - Beatrice, Franco, and baby Rebecca.

Luca and Lorenza immigrated from Italy in 2017, starting from nothing and working tirelessly to build a new life here in Canada. After years of sacrifice, they were finally starting to find stability - they just became proud Canadian citizens and bought their first home, ready to give their children the stability and future they had dreamed of.

Then, everything changed.

Their little boy Franco was diagnosed with Stage 4 high-risk Neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer that has spread to his kidney and spine. His treatment will be long and difficult - five rounds of chemo, major surgery, high-dose chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy over the next 18 months.

Lorenza, who is on maternity leave with 10-month-old Rebecca, will not be able to return to work. She now needs to care for Franco full-time and be by his side through hospital stays and treatments. This means the family has lost her entire income.

Luca continues to work to keep up with their mortgage and family expenses, but with one income and so many new costs - hospital visits, childcare, travel, and everyday needs - the financial pressure is immense. They’ve even had to move in with relatives to stay afloat and get the help they need.

This fundraiser is to help them manage basic living expenses and provide some breathing room while they focus on Franco’s recovery. Every dollar will go directly toward keeping this family stable and supported through the hardest fight of their lives.

Luca and Lorenza are kind, hardworking people who have given so much of themselves to create a better future. Now they need all the support we can give - financial, emotional, and spiritual.

If you can donate or share their story, it would mean the world to our family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping the Monteneros stay strong for Franco.