On Saturday, Nares will begin his "Richard Runs California" fundraiser to help children fighting cancer.
Today, Nares' group provides more than 2, 500 rides a year, traveling more than 70, 000 miles.
Check out the Emilio Nares Foundation website at www.enfhope.org and see how to help.
Nares and his foundation stepped in, saving them a significant amount of travel time each day.
Soon, however, Nares couldn't handle the number of requests that were coming in.
He hired a driver, formalized a schedule for pickups and drop-offs and started the Emilio Nares Foundation in 2003.
"Most of the families that we're dealing with are not just low-income, but they are living in poverty, " Nares said.
One of the first children Nares helped was a 1-year-old boy with a brain tumor who required frequent chemotherapy treatments.
In addition to the free rides, Nares' nonprofit provides support services and assistance to its clientele, many of whom do not speak English.
Nares' group offers translation services and an on-site resource center at Rady to help them navigate the often-complex insurance systems, legal issues and medical diagnoses.
But Nares met many families along the way who didn't have such support: Single moms forced to take leave from jobs without pay, kids having to ride the bus alone to their chemotherapy appointments, siblings left home alone.
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