JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Ten years ago, Riley Ruppert Richendollar arrived at Dream Day as a child facing a frightening diagnosis.
He was just 7 years old when doctors found an inoperable brain tumor deep in his brain. Surgery was too risky, so Riley’s life became filled with chemotherapy, MRIs and constant doctor visits.
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“Every Friday I was going in for chemotherapy,” Riley said. “I had to do that for 52 weeks.”
He remembers being scared and confused.
“I remember asking my dad why it was happening to me and not one of my other friends,” Riley said.
But Dream Day gave him a break from all of that.
He remembers superheroes, NFL players, giant games, candy and the chance to simply feel like a kid.
“It was excitement and joy and happiness,” Riley said. “It was a break.”
Now, 10 years later, Riley is back at Dream Day — but in a very different role.
The same child who once received the magic is now helping create it.
Riley started volunteering for this year’s Dream Day just days before landing a two-week job with Event Technologies, the company helping produce the event.
For him, it is more than a summer job. It is a full-circle moment.
Riley recently graduated high school and is headed to college in Orlando to study live event production.
“I love the audience reaction,” Riley said. “That’s my favorite part.”
He said being behind the scenes has made him appreciate what Dream Day means for children and families facing serious medical challenges.
“It means everything,” Riley said. “It’s a break. It is an escape from the realities of treatment, doctors appointments, scariness and fear.”
Today, Riley’s tumor is stable. He only needs monitoring every two years.
And the little boy who once came to Dream Day looking for hope is now helping give that same feeling to someone else.