Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve And Holly Teixeira.
Hi Steve and Holly , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Ryan was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma at age 18, months after signing a baseball scholarship with Colorado Mesa University. His dreams were put on hold to fight for his life. While in the hospital for intense chemotherapy, Ryan’s nurse navigator explored wish-granting opportunities for him. He began planning a trip that served as a distraction while he endured treatment. He was left heartbroken when he heard that, due to his age, he did not qualify for most organizations. Shortly after, Ryan had surgery to remove a large tumor in his right leg in August of 2015. Ryan came out of surgery with the idea to start the 17 Strong® Foundation, granting “Victory Trips®” to young adults like him that are often in the forgotten age group. Ryan outlined and drafted our organization and its mission from his hospital bed.
After more intense cancer treatment and therapy, Ryan moved to Colorado to officially begin his college and baseball career in January of 2016. His baseball team and coaches had stayed in touch and had been rooting for him throughout his illness. Ryan worked out with the team, completed the spring semester, then spent the summer back home in Pismo Beach.
Ryan returned to CMU in August of 2016 and traveled to Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series as a volunteer for the Challenger Division, a program offered by Little League to enable kids with physical and mental challenges to enjoy the game of baseball. After the trip, he developed a cold that wouldn’t go away. It was soon discovered that Ryan had developed leukemia, a side effect resulting from the chemotherapy he received for Ewing’s Sarcoma; he was flown to UCLA Medical Center in California on September 13, 2016. After more intense treatment followed by a bone marrow transplant, Ryan bravely battled through breakthroughs and setbacks for six months. On March 4, 2017, Ryan passed away, leaving his legacy of 17 Strong®.
Ryan made a lasting impact on everyone he met with his infectious positivity, leadership, ambition, and love for life. His passion for providing encouragement and inspiration for others has helped survivors celebrate their victories, start fresh and gain a new family of survivors and supporters. Ryan’s parents, Holly and Steve Teixeira lead the organization today with a passion for helping those like their son who has battled this painful journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have incredible support locally, but expanding donor support beyond our community has been challenging.
Awareness
Many people still don’t know that 17 Strong exists or understand the impact of Victory Trips.
Serving a Unique Age Group
The 18–40 age group is often overlooked by traditional cancer support programs.
Limited Marketing Budget
We rely heavily on volunteers, word of mouth, and social media to spread our message.
Finding Eligible Recipients
Many young cancer survivors who qualify have never heard of us.
Corporate Partnerships
Building relationships with businesses outside our immediate community.
Grant Funding
Competing with larger, nationally recognized nonprofits for grant dollars.
Keeping Up With Demand
As awareness grows, the number of trip requests grows too.
Travel Costs
Airfare, lodging, and experiences continue to increase in price.
Limited Staff
As a grassroots organization, much of the work falls on a small group of dedicated people.
Storytelling
Capturing and sharing recipient stories while respecting privacy and health challenges.
Economic Uncertainty
When the economy tightens, charitable giving often decreases.
Building National Recognition
Growing from a local nonprofit into a recognized national resource.
Donor Retention
Turning one-time donors into long-term supporters.
Balancing Growth and Mission
Expanding our reach while maintaining the personal touch that makes 17 Strong special.
Sustainability
Ensuring that 17 Strong can continue granting Victory Trips for years to come.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
17 Strong is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to granting Victory Trips to young adult cancer survivors ages 18–40—the often-forgotten age group that falls between pediatric and older adult cancer programs. Founded by our son Ryan Teixeira before he passed away from cancer at age 20, 17 Strong exists to give survivors something to look forward to after treatment and a chance to celebrate life beyond cancer.
What we specialize in is creating meaningful, personalized travel experiences that help survivors reconnect with family, friends, and themselves after one of the most difficult chapters of their lives. Every Victory Trip is customized to the recipient’s wishes and serves as a reminder that there is still joy, adventure, and hope ahead.
What we’re known for is our personal approach. We don’t just write a check—we build relationships. Many of our recipients become part of the 17 Strong family, and their stories continue to inspire our mission.
What we’re most proud of is turning unimaginable loss into purpose. Ryan’s legacy continues through every trip granted, every survivor celebrated, and every life impacted. We are proud that a small, volunteer-driven organization has been able to send a record number of survivors on Victory Trips and make a difference far beyond what many thought possible.
What sets us apart is that we understand this journey personally. 17 Strong was born from a family’s experience with cancer, and everything we do is rooted in compassion, authenticity, and hope. We are a grassroots organization powered by volunteers, donors, and a community that believes cancer survivors deserve more than survival—they deserve something to celebrate.
Our mission is simple: to provide hope, create memories, and remind young cancer survivors that victory is worth celebrating. 💙💛❤️
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We’d like readers to know that every Victory Trip represents far more than a vacation—it represents hope, healing, and the celebration of life after cancer. Behind every trip is a survivor who has faced challenges most people can only imagine and has chosen to keep moving forward.
17 Strong was born from heartbreak, but it continues because of hope. Our son Ryan believed that attitude is everything, and that belief remains at the heart of our mission today. While we miss him every day, we are honored to carry his legacy forward by helping other young adults create lasting memories with the people they love most.
We also want people to know that you don’t have to be a large corporation or make a huge donation to make a difference. Every volunteer, donor, sponsor, and supporter plays a role in helping us grant Victory Trips. Together, we’re proving that a grassroots organization can make a life-changing impact.
Our dream is that one day every young adult cancer survivor who needs a Victory Trip will know that 17 Strong is here for them. Until then, we’ll continue doing what we’ve always done—one survivor, one trip, and one story at a time. ❤️💙💛
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.17strong.org
- Instagram: @17_strong
- Facebook: @17strong
- Youtube: @17strong24
