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Ride with Emilio: Over a million miles of free rides in San Diego

The foundation gives free rides to underserved children fighting devastating illnesses, who desperately need a ride to the hospital.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. —

You would have to drive around Earth 40 times to hit a million miles, but the Emilio Nares Foundation has hit that number right here in San Diego with precious cargo along for the ride. 

They give free rides to underserved children fighting devastating illnesses, who desperately need a ride to the hospital.

One particular ride for the Emilio Nares Foundation was a rolling celebration. 

Five-year-old Julia Cuadros Garcia was the star as she was being picked up by ENF CEO Karen Terra, along with staff and ENF founders Richard and Diane Nares. 

Julia's trip to Rady Children’s Hospital marked a million miles traveled for the foundation. 

Richard and Diane started ENF 16 years ago, after losing their son, Emilio, to leukemia. They had a simple mission, to make sure children battling cancer would not miss critical doctors’ appointments because of a lack of transportation. 

It started with Richard driving his own car back in 2004, after learning about families missing appointments because of transportation issues. He resolved to make a difference, and since then, ENF has grown and made a huge difference for thousands of children and families in need. 

Among those helped in ENF’s early days were Elier Resendiz and Jose Navarete. 

Both were shuttled back and forth to doctors appointments as children when they were very ill. They said they had spent hours and hours on buses getting to the hospital, but the free rides lifted a huge burden from their families. 

The Emilio Nares Foundation has grown from one car to seven vans and they want to do even more to help families in need during a health crisis. 

Kids in San Diego are still missing doctors' appointments and they want to expand their effort to other counties, even throughout the country. 

If you would like to help out or just want more information on the Emilio Nares Foundation, you can go to their website, www.enfhope.org

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