Jerry and Nicole DiLeo stand in front of the Tough Like Tori Foundation banner at the Harrison Men’s Age 30-and-Over Soccer Tournament, honoring their daughter Tori and supporting awareness and research for rare pediatric kidney cancer.
Harrison Men’s Soccer Tournament Honors Tori DiLeo, Benefits Tough Like Tori Foundation
The Harrison Men’s Age 30-and-Over Soccer Program hosted a tournament at Harrison High School on Oct. 10 to benefit the Tough Like Tori (TLT) Foundation, turning a morning of friendly competition into a meaningful tribute to a young Harrison resident remembered for her strength, determination, and the lasting impact she made during her short lived life.
Several teams competed in short round-robin matches throughout the morning, bringing together players and spectators for a community event centered on a shared cause. Onlookers enjoyed coffee and doughnuts while cheering on the teams and supporting the foundation’s mission.
Before the first match, Nicole DiLeo spoke briefly about her daughter, Tori, her legacy and thanked the players for dedicating the rainy Sunday morning to the foundation. She shared the importance of raising awareness of pediatric kidney cancer and supporting research for children facing these rare and challenging diagnoses. Tori’s father, Jerry DiLeo, was also in attendance.
Tori DiLeo was an honor student, an avid tennis player, and a young woman preparing to begin the next chapter of her life at Lehigh University. She died in August 2025 at age 18 from tRCC/PeComa, an ultra-rare kidney cancer that affects approximately only 75 people worldwide.
In Tori’s memory, her parents, Jerry and Nicole DiLeo, and her sister, Ani DiLeo, founded the Tough Like Tori Foundation. The organization is committed to honoring Tori’s legacy by raising awareness, advancing research, and supporting children battling rare pediatric kidney cancer.
Beyond its research and awareness efforts, the foundation works to make a difference in the local community. Its initiatives include scholarships for local high school graduates, bake sales, the sale of gold ribbons for mailboxes during September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and holiday gift collections/a toy drive for bereaved siblings. These efforts recognize not only the children facing cancer but also the families and siblings whose lives are deeply affected by the experience.
Each July, the foundation hosts an annual golf and tennis outing and dinner at Harrison Meadows. The inaugural event raised more than $85,000 to support research, local scholarships, and holiday gifts for bereaved siblings, demonstrating the impact of community involvement and generosity.
The Harrison soccer tournament was another opportunity for community members to come together in support of a cause that touches so many lives. Through events like these, the foundation continues to honor Tori’s memory while working toward a future with greater awareness, more research, and better support for children and families affected by rare pediatric kidney cancer.
To learn more about the Tough Like Tori Foundation, visit toughliketori.org or follow the foundation on Instagram at @toughliketorifoundation.