05/28/2026
May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. To honor this, we want to dedicate this month's at the to Ian, a 23-year-old survivor of a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (one of the most common pediatric brain tumors).
Having Ian at a Richi House session means that laughter and puns are assured, and that ice cream is definitely coming out of the freezer at some point!
He describes himself as "outgoing, friendly, funny, and thoughtful," even adding, "I am great!" We can absolutely guarantee that he is one of the greatest! Ian has been part of the very first cohort of pediatric brain tumor survivors at the Richi House since the beginning, almost three years ago. For him, the sessions have "added to my life." Without them, he says, "I would not have gotten to meet new people and also try new things like the Foundry fundraiser in Cambridge. I now know what a Timmy Cake is , and they are delicious (shoutout to our friends at The Timothy O'Connell Foundation!). Because of Richi House, I am also involved with Richi Catering and Richi Environment." Indeed, Ian is one of our best workers at Richi Catering, and he's always ready to lend a hand at our events. Thanks, Ian!
Ian doesn't only love the ice cream and chocolate options at the Richi House; he also loves "the friends, community, and feeling understood. I have met so many great people. My time at Richi House is amazing." He adds that he wouldn't change a single thing: "The group is wonderful, and it's great to have a group of counselors that get it all. I am not just someone in a wheelchair."
As we wrap up Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and and join us in celebrating Ian and all the amazing pediatric brain tumor survivors who come to the Richi House every month. You all light up the house! đ