August 15, 2016
Brian Hickey/PhillyVoice
Jose Martinez (left) fights for medical-marijuana laws for people like South Jersey's Tuffy and Ricardo Rivera. Tuffy suffers from an extreme form of epilepsy that led doctors to say she would die before she turned 9. Her 10th birthday is approaching.
Back in April, we brought you the story of Tuffy Rivera, the nine-year-old South Jersey girl who’s been able to stave off debilitating seizures brought on by an extreme form of epilepsy thanks to medical marijuana.
Her father Ricardo said it's been a life-saving twist in his young daughter’s life.
“They told us she wouldn’t make it past nine. Well, she’s nine now,” he said of a mission for which he’s created the hashtag #TuffysFight to spread the word. “We ended up getting her [medical-marijuana card] after a year and half into the Jersey program. The first day on oil, she went seizure-free and has been pretty good ever since. She’s decreased by 90 percent.”
Related story: Philly activist: It's high time for a cannabis community center
On Tuesday night, Tuffy’s Fight is giving back to others with a Back-to-School Drive & Party at Connie's Ric Rac, 1132 South Ninth St.
Ricardo Rivera said it’s a progression from last year, when “our wacky pal N.A. Poe smoked a joint outside of the Philly school district HQ to raise awareness about the economic benefits of cannabis legalization.”
The Tuesday night event, however, is quite different.
“This year, we are shifting our focus and working to directly impact our ailing Philadelphia schools by donating new, unused backpacks and school supplies to our children in need,” said Ricardo Rivera.
Attendees can avoid the $10 cover charge with at-the-door donations of new packs of pens, pencils, crayons, erasers and glue sticks; pencil cases and new lunchboxes; and backpacks (filled with supplies, ideally). (See here and here for more details.
Of course, there is a marijuana-related aspect to the event.
“We are really looking forward to continuing to show the people of Philadelphia that our cannabis community is dedicated to making our city a better place to live for everyone,” Rivera said. “So, roll a bunch of joints, make a pit stop for some supplies for the kids, and come blaze with us all night long for a good cause."
For more information, check the Tuffy's Fight Facebook page.
Tuesday Aug. 16
8 p.m. - 12 a.m. | $10 or donated items per person
Connie's Ric Rac, 1132 South Ninth Street
