Gio Named Ambassador For Hospital's 'Go The Distance' Walk

From Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital

OSSINING, NY — Giovanni “Gio” Toribio, 7, has been named an ambassador of the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital's 15th Annual Go the Distance Walk and Family Fun Day, scheduled for Sept. 15.

The presentation was cheered on by his second-grade classmates at Brookside School in Ossining during an assembly where representatives from the hospital presented him with an official sash.

The annual fundraiser for the Hudson Valley’s children’s hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), regularly draws thousands of participants.

Gio was joined by Ossining’s Brookside Elementary School principal, Ann Dealy; his mother, Lauren; brother, Lorenzo; and his grandmother, along with more than 40 classmates and peers.

Jessica Hochberg, MD, Associate Director of the Childhood and Adolescent Cancer and Blood Disease Center at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, spoke of Gio’s bravery and his ability to “roll with the punches.”

Gio was diagnosed with Stage 3 anaplastic large cell lymphoma in 2016 at age 4. He had tumors all over his body, including his brain. Gio had two surgeries to remove the brain tumors and has had six surgeries in all which, combined with other treatments, have put his cancer into remission.

Unrelated to the cancer, Gio was also diagnosed with McCune-Albright syndrome, which impacts the integrity of his bones, making them more susceptible to fracture. Despite this challenge, Gio loves to watch and participate in sports. He has met many New York sports celebrities and even scored a ceremonial touchdown in a New York Jets scrimmage.

As one of three Go the Distance Walk and Family Fun Day ambassadors, Gio will help represent the more than 30,000 seriously ill and injured children cared for by Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital annually. Also named as ambassadors for the walk were Asher Levy-Dahl, 7, of Cornwall and Yashwini Bobde, 4, of Briarcliff Manor.

Click to register for the Go the Distance Walk and Family Fun Day.