JACKSONVILLE, Fla – This year alone, an estimated 2 million people will hear the words “you have cancer”—and more than 600,000 will lose their battle.
But for Richard Reyes, a stage four colorectal cancer survivor, hope didn’t just help him survive. It gave him a new purpose—and a new voice.
Reyes will share his powerful story this weekend at Relay For Life of the First Coast, hosted by the American Cancer Society. The event honors survivors, remembers those we’ve lost, and raises funds to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.
Before his diagnosis, Reyes had just purchased a boat—a small dream come true. But soon after, he was sidelined by intense stomach pain and symptoms that left him desperate for answers. He remembers chugging Pepto Bismol, trying to self-diagnose, and hoping the pain would fade.
“I started having major stomach pain… it felt like knives were going into me,” Reyes recalled.
When he noticed blood in his stool, doctors initially suspected something minor—an ulcer or a cut. What no one mentioned was cancer. That changed quickly.
Reyes was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer at age 45. The tumor was inoperable. The news came as a shock—but Reyes wasn’t just thinking about himself.
“I thought, if I live through this, I want to make sure everyone knows they need to talk to their doctor and understand their own medical records,” he said.
Reyes had a strong family history of cancer. His mother died of lung cancer in her 50s. His father is a cancer survivor. Yet no one had ever advised him to get an early colonoscopy—something his doctor later admitted should have happened in his 30s.
That life-changing moment led to something greater: Operation Positive Vibes and the Blue Bag Project—initiatives founded by Reyes to bring joy, support, and practical care to patients and their loved ones.
“These bags are about bringing positivity,” Reyes said. “The patient goes through cancer, but their loved ones are in the fight too.”
Now in remission, Reyes continues to battle lingering side effects and undergo scans every 90 days—but he’s back on the water and back to living. He credits his survival to persistence, getting second and third opinions, and a last-minute pivot to immunotherapy after a near-miss with the wrong chemo plan.
“Sometimes we lose people to this—it happens every day. But there are a lot more people winning their fight. We just don’t hear enough about them,” he said.
Reyes now uses his story to uplift others. He gives shout-outs to survivors of stage four breast cancer, brain cancer, esophageal cancer, and more. Why? Because every survivor gives someone else a reason to believe.
“When you’re fighting cancer, you want to meet another survivor,” he said. “If it’s possible for them, it’s possible for me.”
Join the Movement
Reyes will speak at the Relay For Life of the First Coast, held Saturday April 12th at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
🕓 Opening Ceremony & Survivor/Caregiver Lap – 4:00 PM🕯️ Luminaria Ceremony🎉 Survivor Reception📲 Register online at RelayForLife.org/FirstCoastFL
To learn more about Reyes’ mission, visit operationpositivevibes.com. Want to support a patient or caregiver? You can purchase a Blue Bag at bluebagproject.com.
