The Inspiration Behind the Vision

Daniel Arce was a young man of just 15 when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. Facing his situation head on, Daniel fought courageously for 4 years without ever giving up hope, graduating from his high school class of 2006 and becoming a 4.0 student at Rampapo College in New Jersey.

According to Ligia Bodadilla, Daniel’s mother, “The situation for teen cancer patients was terrible, considering that the medical treatment for kids is different from the one that teenagers receive. The project has contributed to healthcare centers with orthopedic beds and the rebuilding of some healthcare institutions.”

Daniel himself was fortunate to be admitted into the National Children’s Hospital with assistance from his pediatrician, as care and services at the center don’t cater to the unique needs of sick children over the age of 13.

Spending the majority of his time bedridden and subjected to physically and mentally challenging treatments such as chemotherapy, Daniel never allowed self-pity or remorse to prevent him from fighting courageously until the age of 19. He never took his studies or educational goals for granted, and it was this scholastic passion that he desired to bestow to others in similar situations as his legacy.

It was this experience that inspired his drive to establish an organization dedicated to championing health care and facilities specifically configured for teenagers with serious ailments, providing optimized treatment and support.

Catering to the Unmet Needs of Cancer-Stricken Teenagers

Proyecto Daniel’s objectives center around providing a healing environment and optimized medical treatment for cancer patients between the ages of 13-25. They also provide financial support to low income families, such as providing groceries to those struggling to make ends meet.

Their efforts have produced some inspiring results, establishing Proyecto Daniel rooms designed specifically for teenage patients in hospitals across the country in the past 5 years, including Hospital San Juan de Dios, Hospital Mexico, and Hospital Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia. These rooms are specifically configured to provide suitable medical accommodations and amenities as a much-needed source of entertainment and relaxation to their minds off their daily struggles.

Volunteers including recovered cancer patients make routine visits to brighten up the days of those in the midst of their struggle with the deadly disease, providing a much-needed source of companionship and social interaction. Current and recovered cancer patients can relate to each other, understanding the struggle and isolation in a general hospital without access to a support group

Some of them recalled seeing older patients die during their hospitalization, and Proyecto Daniel has addressed these issues with their visions of an all-encompassing center to treat and heal teenage cancer patients by providing treatment options in a welcoming and familiar environment.

Keep the Legacy Alive

An honorary scholarship was founded to honor Daniel’s memory at the Rampapo College in New Jersey where he attended in 2007 and 2008 before his untimely death. The Daniel Arce Scholarship is awarded to Finance majors who have a passionate drive in music and sports as well as demonstrating exemplary effort and perseverance in the face of adversity.

The scholarship symbolizes Daniel’s passions and his legacy: providing education for those with an incredible drive who may otherwise not have access to pursuing their dreams.

Proyecto Daniel’s efforts have touched the lives of over 1000 cancer patients and their families during their times of extreme duress. They continue to make progress in their organizational objectives to provide hopeful young adolescents and adults with a unique service that addresses their specialized needs.

With your additional support, Proyecto Daniel can continue to serve adolescent and young adults struggling with cancer and without adequate access to medical services or facilities. Funding and support for the organization and the goals stems from altruistic and gracious donations from both groups and individuals.

You can play a major part in fulfilling Daniel’s dreams and wishes, by continuing to provide assistance in the form of education, medical treatment, and a welcoming community that are crucial to facilitating rehabilitation and healing in these unfortunate young souls in their fight for recovery and a long life.

We Couldn’t Do This Without You!