According to Cantale, he and his family founded Choke Cancer in order to raise awareness of childhood cancer and help families know they are not facing the disease alone.
“We are fortunate that Dino was able to make it through such a horrific time,” Cantale told Patch. “What we learned throughout this experience is that other families need help and support.”
This year, Cantale approached the Seal Beach Police Department to ask for support, and the coin challenge was born.
A total of 500 coins were produced for the fundraiser, all funded by the Seal Beach Police League.
“This project really started with John looking for a way to turn his family’s experience into something that could help other people,” Chief of Police Michael Henderson said. “Dino’s story is one of tremendous strength, and this campaign gives our community an opportunity to support children and families facing childhood cancer while helping raise awareness of an issue that affects thousands of families every year.”