Danielle Johnston’s story is a testament to courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to service. At just 19 years old, her life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on October 31, 2004—a moment that marked the beginning of a deeply personal journey through cancer. The words “You have cancer” would echo throughout her life not only with her own diagnosis, but again as her mother lost her battle with breast cancer and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), and later when her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

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Driven by these experiences and a profound desire to make a meaningful impact, Danielle pursued higher education at Texas A&M University before earning a second Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Nursing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She spent more than eight years serving as both an inpatient nurse and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Texas Children's Cancer Center, working primarily within the rare and solid tumor division.

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During her clinical career, Danielle identified a critical and often overlooked barrier to care: reliable transportation to life-saving cancer treatments. Recognizing that missed appointments could mean missed chances at survival, she founded Dream Rydes, a nonprofit organization born from both professional insight and personal conviction.

In addition to her clinical background, Danielle brings over six years of experience in medical affairs, contributing to the development and advancement of new oncology treatments. Her combined experience in patient care, research, and advocacy uniquely positions her to lead Dream Rydes with empathy, strategic vision, and purpose.

Danielle’s mission is simple yet powerful:

“To ensure no child misses their life-saving therapies due to a lack of transportation.”

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Through Dream Rydes, she continues to transform adversity into action—ensuring that families facing cancer are supported, empowered, and never left behind.