Dream Rydes Inc
About Dream Rydes Inc
For families getting a child to cancer treatment or care for another chronic illness, the trip itself can be one more burden on an already full day. Dream Rydes steps in with safe, reliable transportation assistance, plus help with costs like parking, fuel, repairs, tolls, and other travel expenses. It also creates Ryde of a Lifetime experiences, so some days hold something other than appointments and waiting rooms.
What sets Dream Rydes apart is how practical and personal it is at the same time. The organization uses customized vans and dream vehicles to support children and families, while staying rooted in founder Danielle Johnston’s own cancer experience and pediatric oncology background.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Transportation Aid Program
Provides safe, reliable rides to medical appointments and treatments, and helps families with transportation-related barriers such as parking, fuel, repairs, tolls, and other travel costs.
Dedicated Transportation
Operates a customized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van to provide comfortable rides for children and families to medical appointments, chemotherapy, and physical therapy.
Parking Support
Provides parking chips to help cover costs during frequent hospital visits, including overnight stays.
Patient Vehicle Support
Helps families with urgent vehicle repairs, maintenance, and other car needs so children can get to the hospital on time.
Fuel Assistance
Provides gas gift cards to help families travel to and from treatment without added stress.
Ryde of a Lifetime Program
Creates personalized day experiences for children battling cancer and other chronic illnesses, including rides in dream vehicles such as exotic cars, planes, helicopters, or boats.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Dream Rydes provides reliable transportation assistance to children with cancer and other chronic illnesses, and creates meaningful experiences for children and their families, one ride at a time.
Who they serve
Children battling cancer and other chronic or critical illnesses, and their families.
Their impact
- 600+ hospital rides delivered and counting
- 250 rides to the hospital
- 122 Rydes of a Lifetime
- $10K in transportation aid
- benefitting 4 families last year
- provided memorable activities and experiences for 20 children and their families
How your donation helps
- Fuel gift cards
- Parking chips
- Urgent vehicle repairs
- Routine vehicle maintenance and safety checks
- Tollway and other travel expenses
- Transportation in customized vans or SUVs
- Fuel, insurance, maintenance, and logistics for patient rides
Our story
Dream Rydes began in Houston after Danielle Johnston, an adolescent cancer survivor and pediatric oncology nurse practitioner, saw transportation barriers up close in her clinical work at Texas Children’s Cancer Center. She had already lived through a cancer diagnosis herself, and she knew how quickly a missing ride could become a missed therapy. So she started Dream Rydes to help children and families get to life-saving care, and to create joyful experiences during hard stretches.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Dream Rydes Inc’s services.
Families can nominate a child through the Nominate Child form, which asks for the patient's name, hospital or treatment center, doctor's name, email, and message. The organization also provides a Book Ride option for transportation aid and offers personalized Ryde of a Lifetime experiences.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
To ensure no child misses their life-saving therapies due to a lack of transportation.
The beautiful experience that Dream Rydes provided for our family is something I will forever cherish.
He makes her feel safe, relaxed, and cared for during every ride.
Events
Houston Soccer Tour
June 7A community motorcade experience with exotic supercars and custom Cybertrucks, live entertainment, family activities, and participation from community leaders and families served by Dream Rydes.
Elmo's Got The Moves Live
June 25A family-friendly Ryde of a Lifetime experience listed on the events page.
Tee Up For A Cause
February 15A Carolinas event held at Simulate Golf in Gastonia, North Carolina, supporting Dream Rydes.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Dream Rydes Inc has shared.
Current needs
- Monthly donors for the Fuel the Ryde Club
- Drivers or owners willing to share exotic cars
- Event committee members
Volunteer opportunities
- Volunteer time to help provide safe rides to medical appointments and moments of joy
- Drive and share an exotic car
- Join the event committee
- Help fundraise through the Ways To Help program
Recognition & press
In the media
- Click2Houston, a feature on Houston-area nonprofits working together for childhood cancer families
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How does Dream Rydes help children get to treatment?
It provides safe, reliable rides to medical appointments, treatments, chemotherapy, and physical therapy in customized vans and SUVs.
What is a Ryde of a Lifetime?
It is a curated day experience for children battling cancer or chronic illnesses, with rides in dream vehicles such as exotic cars, planes, helicopters, or boats.
What transportation-related costs can the program help with?
It can help with parking, fuel, urgent vehicle repairs, tollway expenses, and other travel-related costs.
How can a family request help?
A family can nominate a child through the Nominate Child form by sharing the patient’s name, hospital or treatment center, doctor’s name, email, and a message.
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