Sixth-year infielder DJ Perron discovered 14-year-old Brayden Cabral’s story last year through the Facebook group “Bray’s Fight is Our Fight,” and this year he is showing his support through his cleats.
Cabral was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in February 2024. Perron felt a personal connection through their shared love of baseball and both growing up in Swansea, Massachusetts.
“I wanted Brayden to design my cleats to give him something to smile about every time that I stepped on that field,” Perron said.
Perron is in his final year of eligibility on the University of Rhode Island baseball team after transferring last season, following a four-year career at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
“He’s just a good kid, well-liked,” Rhode Island baseball Head Coach Raphael Cerrato said. “He came in last year and fit in right away as a transfer. He’s just a really good, solid hitter and can play multiple positions, and he’s so valuable to this team.”
During his time at UMass Dartmouth, Perron lost a best friend and teammate to cancer. Wilcar “Willy” Moreno was somebody who changed Perron’s perspective on life.
“He was the type of guy that would walk into a room and smile,” Perron said. “He always saw the good in every bad situation.”
Moreno spent time donating and helping others, even through his cancer diagnosis, according to Perron.
“When he passed away, this was how I grieved,” Perron said. “I wanted to continue the good that he did when he was still with us.”
Perron sold merchandise on Cabral’s behalf last year, donating the profits to his GoFundMe. He’s continued his efforts with his cleats and hopes to visit local children’s hospitals in the near future.
“I have this platform as a Division I athlete,” Perron said. “I want to use this platform for good to show other people in the world and other athletes at the University of Rhode Island that they too can use their platform to make good in the world.”
Perron was able to meet Cabral in person for the first time this February as he picked up his newly designed cleats.
“I spoke to Brayden for about an hour,” Perron said. “I just talked to him about baseball, video games and what he likes to do in his free time.”
New additions to Perron’s cleats include an orange ribbon for leukemia, “GO RHODY,” a cross and #BraydenStrong. Cabral added Perron’s last name to the back of one cleat, with the other reading “Rams.” He was also able to fill in parts of the cleats with URI’s Keaney blue and dark blue.
“Brayden was excited to be a part of [designing the cleats] and is humbled [Perron] took the time to share [Cabral’s] story,” Cabral’s mother, Kelly Rose DiGiammo, said in a post on their Facebook group about the interaction. “We look forward to attending some games! Go Rhody!!”
Cabral received a stem cell transplant in May 2024, and as of January, he is in remission by all clinical accounts.
“It was like a relief,” Perron said. “He’s just a kid, and it was just awesome hearing how well he was doing.”
Perron has kept in touch with Cabral as the season has gotten underway. Perron started the season strong with two home runs and 14 RBIs across the opening series against the College of William and Mary, including Rhody’s historic 36-22 win on Feb. 16.
“He reached out telling me how crazy that game was,” Perron said. “He asked me how it was…I was like, ‘Yeah, it took a long time, but ultimately it was very fun.’”
Local apparel company “Brhodies” recently heard the story through URI Athletics and donated a gift basket that Perron was able to deliver to Cabral on Feb. 18.
“Nothing is too small or too big,” Perron said. “Ultimately, just keep him in your thoughts and keep praying for him.”
Other donations can be made through Cabral’s GoFundMe.
