Rikki Flores

ON JAN 29TH, THE CONCLUSION OF MY FIRST MONTH IN BUSINESS AS A STATE FARM AGENT, MY TOP EMPLOYEE AND RIGHT-HAND MAN, RIKKI FLORES, SHARED WITH ME THAT HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PANCREATIC CANCER AT TEH AGE OF 46.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FEELING OF SHOCK AND DISBELIEF AFTER READING THOSE TEXTS. AT THAT TIME I HAD KNOWN RIKKI FOR TWO MONTHS BUT IT FELT LIKE I’D KNOWN HIM MY ENTIRE LIFE. LONG NIGHTS AT THE OFFICE, TREATING MY BUSINESS LIKE HIS OWN, TALKS ABOUT LIFE, STORIES FROM THE PAST AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. ANYONE THAT IS AROUND RIKKI FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE MINUTES INSTANTLY REALIZES WHAT A SPECIAL, SELFLESS, ENERGETIC PERSON HE IS.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER RECEIVING THE WORST NEWS SOMEONE CAN RECEIVE THE FIRST SERIES OF TEXTS WERE ABOUT HOW THERE WAS NO WORST CASE SCENARIO AND HOW HE WAS GOING TO BEAT THIS AND USE HIS STORY TO INSPIRE OTHERS.

DURING THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT CANCER, CHEMO TREATMENT, THE PANCREAS AND SO MUCH MORE. WE HAVE ALREADY MET SO MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE HELPED AND MOVE MOUNTAINS FOR RIKKI. INSPIRED BY RIKKI AND HIS DESIRE TO USE HIS SOTRY TO IMPACT OTHERS I WAS INSPIRIED TO FORM FIGHT THE FIGHT.