The Story: This fundraiser is for Tony Ricci, an amazing husband, father and friend and is being organized by his mighty army of loved ones and friends. Please allow us to share his story and bring you up to date on his challenge, and express our need for your help in his battle for his life. Tony has been experiencing significant pain in his lower back since June 2024. He has continued to smile, work hard and be there for everyone despite having a hard time walking and sleeping. His pursuit for the answer to the source of his pain has been a very long frustrating journey, and the once non-noticeable growth on his spine is now the size of a kiwi. On December 12th he was finally able to identify the enemy and give it a name. Tony has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid Cancer and it has metastasized in his spine and is in his bones. If you have ever been blessed by a special soul in your life that gives more than he takes, you also know that these gifts from God are also stubborn and hard headed and don’t want anyone else to have to take care of them! But, now he needs us…Tony is unable to continue working for now in order to focus all his time and energy on beating cancer. Tony being the amazing selfless human being that he is, is more worried about taking care of everyone else and not letting anyone down. He is very dedicated to his personal & work families and has never met a stranger or hesitated to help someone in need EVER!

You can always tell a lot about a father by the family he has created. He has a beautiful wife and partner who loves him more than words can say. They have three daughters that are beautiful, smart, strong forces of nature, and great human beings who love their Dad beyond belief. These amazing daughters married wonderful husbands and created seven amazing grandchildren. To those grandchildren he is Papa, their favorite hero and friend. You can feel the love when you are in their presence, and everywhere you look in their home you can see that family and faith are their center. We have created Team Tony to help him get back the quality of life he deserves, and we are focused on finding him the best care possible because the only option is to overcome. We need him to know that the people that depend on him are cared for. If you have ever been blessed by a Tony in your life, please give in their honor or memory. We would also love to hear your stories and encourage you to send positive messages to Tony via the link we have provided below.

https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/XwBBdJhZ

We wanted to provide you with how Tony’s immediate journey will continue from here:

- Formalize the creation of Team Tony

- Engage our fellow prayer warriors by spreading the word

- Continue educating ourselves on every possible solution

- Pursue a second opinion from Mayo clinic and continue working with Moffit to establish best plan of care

- Project Peace of Mind: Our fundraising efforts

Through the effective advocation done by his daughter to get his next appointments in line immediately with all being completed by January 8th 2026:

- Whole body nuclear scan

- Pet Scan

- MRI

- Neurosurgeon consultation

- Thyroid biopsy (then subsequent neck surgery to remove)

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” - Helen Keller