BY ELIZABETH AGUILERA

Eight-year-old Ronan Torrence is set to swim until he can freestyle or backstroke no more Friday to raise money for the big brother of two of his friends.

The big brother, 14-year-old Lucas Valencia, was born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a year ago he and his family were told by doctors he would need a heart transplant. Since that time Lucas lost his grandfather, one of his biggest supporters.

“It’s been hard but it’s also wonderful to know there is this option of a heart transplant,” said Miriam Valencia, Lucas’ mother. “I have faith in God and I know the answers will come at the right time. It’s a matter of keeping hope and keeping patience.”

A four-mom team in Vista, where both boys live, is working with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association to raise $50,000 for Valencia’s surgery.

The funds will pay for additional non-insurance covered expenses related to the $500,000 transplant, said Becky Gelvezon, community coordinator with COTA. So far the group has raised nearly $700. Ronan’s swim-a-thon at the Brooks Street Pool in Oceanside will contribute to the fund.

“We are just touched that Ronan would be so selfless to offer this as a way to help Lucas,” said Miriam Valencia, Lucas’ mother. “With a new heart (Lucas) can be a normal child.”

Once Lucas is placed on the heart transplant list the family must have bags packed and be ready to rush to UCLA Medical Center. Pediatric heart transplants are not done in San Diego, Valencia said.

Ronan’s and other contributions will help get the family on the list and ready to go sooner than expected.

Keep reading article on the San Diego Union-Tribune website >

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