Support Ray Villanueva’s Fight Against Stage 3 Kidney Cancer

I’m reaching out on behalf of Raymond “Ray” Villanueva, a soldier in every sense of the word, who is now facing the toughest battle of his life—Stage 3 Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, a battle brought on by extended periods of exposure to toxic environments while serving our country. Renal Cell Carcinoma is typically diagnosed in people over 60, making Ray’s diagnoses at just 36 especially rare and alarming.

Ray was diagnosed with this aggressive cancer on Friday, February 21st, a direct result of his prolonged exposure to burn pits and other hazardous toxins during his multiple combat deployments to Iraq. He is now preparing for an uphill fight that includes major surgery followed by immunotherapy. As many of you know, medical treatments, travel, and everyday expenses don’t pause during times like these. The financial burden of this battle will be significant, especially with his worklife taking a major hit during recovery.

Ray has spent his life in selfless service to this nation. As an Army veteran, he deployed four times to Iraq with a Joint Special Operations Task Force specializing in intelligence collection. After leaving the military, he continued to serve our country, deploying as an Intelligence Contractor to Afghanistan, Syria, and Africa—a staggering 26 deployments in support of the global counter-terrorism mission. He dedicated a large portion of his life to protecting others, often at great personal risk. Now, he is paying the ultimate price for that sacrifice.

Our goal is to help cover:

• Medical bills and necessary treatments

• Travel costs for care

• Alternative therapies to improve his quality of life

• Everyday expenses for the family he still supports, that will increase during this difficult time

Ray and his family are determined and hopeful, even in the face of this grim diagnosis. But no warrior fights alone. If you’re able to donate, any amount will help ease this burden and allow him to focus on healing. If you can’t contribute financially, sharing this fundraiser and keeping Ray in your thoughts means the world.

Ray fought for us—now it’s our turn to fight for him.

Thank you for your support. Let’s rally behind Ray like he’s done for so many others. #raystrong