Hispanic Girl Sells Hot Chocolate and Champurrado to Improve Her Life While Battling a Serious Illness

• Adrianna Arias Turns Idea Into Community Support
• Community Rallies Around Adri
• Solidarity Fuels Her Independence

What began as a small stand set up in front of a home in Fresno turned into a wave of solidarity that has moved thousands of people.

Adrianna “Adri” Marvella Arias, a 9-year-old Hispanic girl born with Spina bifida who uses a wheelchair full-time, decided to do something extraordinary to help her family meet an urgent need:

“To raise money to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van that will transform her mobility and daily life.”

Adrianna Arias’ spina bifida fundraiser quickly drew attention across social media.

Adrianna Arias Sells Champurrado to Change Her Quality of Life

@ara.silly Fresno Ca !! COME SUPPORT!! My daughter’s name is Adrianna . She was born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida. Because of her health condition, she is a full time wheelchair user. Her dad and I are saving up as much as we can to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle that’ll eventually be hers when she is able to drive.. She told us she wanted to contribute by making her own hot chocolate stand. So of course we want to let her do this and hope you guys can help her out with her sale. SEE YOU SOON 🫶🏼 #559fresno #trending #fresnoca #fypシ゚viral ♬ original sound – Ara.silly

An Initiative Born in Childhood, With a Clear Goal

Adri is not selling hot chocolate and champurrado to save up for toys or candy.

Her goal is much bigger.

Living with spina bifida—a congenital condition that prevents her from walking or standing—she relies entirely on a wheelchair for mobility.

Her family had been saving for a van equipped with a ramp, but the process was slow, and transportation was becoming increasingly difficult.

That’s when Adri came up with the idea to set up a drink stand outside her home to contribute to the family’s goal.

The initiative gained momentum when her mother, Araceli De La Garza, shared the fundraiser on TikTok.

The video quickly went viral, sparking widespread support throughout the city and strengthening Adrianna Arias’ spina bifida fundraiser campaign.

The Daily Weight of Care and the Dream of Independence

On the family’s GoFundMe page, Adri’s mother openly explains the challenges they face.

As Adrianna’s primary caregiver, she often has to physically lift her daughter in and out of the family SUV when her husband is unavailable.

Over time, that task has become increasingly demanding.

“I truly want her to be independent,” Araceli De La Garza said in an interview.

“I don’t want spina bifida to stop her or make her think she can’t do something.”

For the family, an accessible van would not only make trips to school and medical appointments easier—it would allow Adri to move more freely and independently.

TikTok Turns a Drink Stand Into a Community Movement

The response online was immediate.

The TikTok video gathered thousands of views, comments, and shares, transforming Adri’s small stand into a symbol of community unity.

Among the supportive messages:

• “My daughter was also born with spina bifida and we’re from Fresno—we’ll definitely stop by to support,” one mother wrote.
• “I already bought mine! The champurrado is amazing!” another person commented.
• “Let’s help this mom get the car she needs to take this little girl wherever she wants to go,” read another message.

Adri herself explained her motivation with heartfelt simplicity:

“I was surprised. My mom was trying to save to buy a car with a ramp, so I wanted to help.”

Her father, Juan Arias, added:

“With a vehicle like that, she’ll be able to wheel herself in and be more independent.”

Adrianna Arias’ Inspiring Story Has a Powerful Message

For Araceli De La Garza, the impact has been overwhelming.

“It’s incredible to see how much support and love Adrianna’s story is receiving,” she shared.

“Our little girl has the power to shake the Fresno community and surrounding areas.”

In the final message on GoFundMe, the family thanks everyone who donated, shared the video, or visited the stand.

Adrianna Arias is described as a sweet, intelligent, and determined girl who refuses to let her disability prevent her from enjoying life.

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The vehicle they hope to purchase, they explain, will eventually belong to her when she is old enough to drive.

The story behind Adrianna Arias’ spina bifida fundraiser proves that no idea is too small when it comes from the heart—and that even in the face of a serious condition, solidarity can open doors to a more independent future.

SOURCE: GoFundMe / People