We were pleased to find out this month that Dr. Mark Souweidane began working with the eighth patient in his groundbreaking clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. According to Dr. Souweidane, the trial is progressing beyond doctors' expectations. "Thus far the procedure has been very well tolerated," he said. "All children have recovered from surgery without a problem. We are continuing with our planned dose escalation and just treated our first patient on the third of four anticipated dose levels. While the study continues, we are diligently working in the laboratory to optimize the method for using this method to deliver multiple targeted molecules".

The trial—which has received approximately $300,000 in donations from the Cristian Rivera Foundation since 2009—is expected to be completed by sometime in the Fall or Winter of this year. Added Dr. Souweidane, "I firmly believe that this study, made possible in part by the Cristian Rivera Foundation, will pave the way to offer these children a new and promising option for drug delivery."

The Cristian Rivera Foundation is proud to support Dr. Souweidane and his team as they work toward the possibility of finding a cure. Right now, 200 children in the United States are diagnosed with DIPG each year. Since the disease has no known survivors, all of those children will pass away without research like the trial being performed by Dr. Souweidane, and that research can't be performed without donations from people like you. So please help us get closer to a cure by making a tax-deductible donation to the Cristian Rivera Foundation at http://www.cristianriverafoundation.org/donation.html or by purchasing official Cristian Rivera Foundation merchandise.

Visit http://www.cristianriverafoundation.org/shop.html and you'll see that we offer two different types of blue wristbands, as well as a wood beaded bracelet that comes with your choice of bronze or silver charm. We also have three different t-shirt designs to show your support for our cause just like actor Luis Guzman and former New York Knicks All-Star Anthony Mason, both of whom have been seen wearing the Cristian Rivera Foundation t-shirt around town. Our wristband has been seen on everyone from Diddy to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. to hip hip legend Doug E. Fresh to designer Patricia Field. As the diversity of that group shows, DIPG touches all lives. The disease doesn't affect any particular race, sex, or social class. Anyone can get DIPG and everyone who gets DIPG will pass away without your help. Please share this newsletter and our website, www.cristianriverafoundation.org, with your friends, family and coworkers and post it on your social networking pages. Follow the Cristian Rivera Foundation on Twitter @tweetcf and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cristianriverafoundation to get the latest news on the DIPG community and the ways you can help us finally cure this terrible disease.

Sincerely, "Cristian's Mommy" Jenelle Asencio, John "Gungie" Rivera "Forever Cristian's Daddy," and all of the members of the Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee: Aldo Marin, Alex Garcia, Andy Epstein, Anthony Mason, Carlos Colon, Carlos Keyes, Carlos Nazario, Danielle Staub, Darlene Rodriguez, David M. Garriga, Dennis Rodriguez, Dr. Ben Velazquez, Dr. Manuel A. Moran, Dolores Catania, Edward Caban, Elis Pacheco, Fernando Ferrer, Fred Garcia, Funkmaster Flex, Jay Hernandez, Jeff Lavino, Jerry Chaparro, Jerry Salerno, J.I. Starr, John "Jelly Bean" Benitez, Johnny Nuñez, Kamar De Los Reyes, Karen Cerna, Katie DeFlorio, Kenan Thompson, Kim Medina-Tibulac, Little Louie Vega, Luis Guzman, Mark Rosner, Matthew "Mateo" Rajkumar, Miriam Colon, Modesto Lacen, Odalys Molina, Pablo Diaz, Ralph Mercado III, Ramon E. Javier, Robert Vazquez, Roberto Clemente Jr., Solange Osorio, Steve Cox, Tedsmooth, Tony Ferrara, Victor Martinez, Vito Bruno, William Padilla and William Pla.