Tricia Riccio
Advocate, President, New Jersey Citizens Coalition for Cures (NJCCC)

Tricia Riccio and her husband Peter have been married for 27 years and have been blessed with five beautiful children. They have owned an independent pharmacy and deli in Dunellen, New Jersey for the past 22 years. Although Tricia works part time doing the accounting and payroll for their business, her primary role has been mother and caregiver to their children.

Throughout the years, Tricia has been active in the Parent Teacher Organization as well as in community service, organizing fundraisers for the victims of Hurricane Floyd and 911.

She is fortunate to be a part of a wonderful community, and has always been glad to put in her time and efforts to help when needed. She never dreamed that there would come a time when her own family would be the recipient of the endless help, generosity, and support of the members of that same community.

On February 23, 2003, Tricia’s son Carl suffered a severe spinal cord injury while competing in a high school wrestling match, leaving him quadriplegic. She finds it hard to put into words the emotions that a parent goes through when faced with something like this. Once she and her family got through the initial shock, and Carl was settled in his rehab, they realized that they needed to do something more to help their son. With the support of their family, friends, and community, they became very active in the passage of the New Jersey stem cell research bill. On behalf of Carl, and others like him, hundreds of letters, e-mails, and phone calls were sent out to assemblymen throughout the state. The bill passed and was signed into law in January of 2004.

Since then, Tricia has been working along with the Governor’s office, helping to promote stem cell research in New Jersey. In 2006, Tricia was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine to the Board of Managers for the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey.  She is the President of the New Jersey Citizens Coalition for Cures. Tricia believes that stem cell research will one day produce a cure for her son, and for millions of others who suffer daily with debilitating conditions and diseases. She will continue in her efforts to be a voice for those who need to be heard. It is Tricia’s hope that by telling her story, she can encourage others to make their voice heard as well, and that together we CAN make a difference.