Support for Cris Omampo & Family (Roel Omampo)

5/19/2020 7 am MST update: It is with a heavy heart that I let you know our friend Roel passed away on the evening of Monday May 18, 2020. I was advised of his passing by Roel's wife Cris.

The fundraiser remains open so that we can focus on continuing to raise funds to cover funeral expenses and ongoing costs for Cris and her daughters Ashley and Zoe. Further updates will be made as funeral arrangements progress.

Please keep Roel and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.


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On  April 19, 2020,  Roel Omampo of Calgary, Alberta, Canada was diagnosed with Stage 4b colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer.  The diagnosis came after admitting himself to Foothills hospital, having endured several weeks of abdominal issues. 

Roel is a humble, hard working family man to his wife Cris and proud father to his daughters Ashley (16) and Zoe (10).

With a heart full of hope and determination to provide his family with greater opportunities, Roel secured a work permit in Canada and moved from Makati City in the Philippines to Calgary in 2012 .  When he arrived in Calgary, Roel worked in various businesses in the retail food industry, diligently trying to accumulate savings in order to be able to afford to sponsor his family's move to the Philippines.

Roel qualified for permanent residency in 2016 and Cris, Ashley and Zoe joined him in Calgary shortly thereafter.

Until the Covid-19 pandemic took over the world, Roel and Cris were employed in the retail food industry.  The month prior to his diagnosis, Roel was laid off from his job.

Roel's treatment protocol includes radiation and chemotherapy.  During the week of May 4th, he commenced his radiation treatments but began to suffer severe abdominal pain and has been in the hospital since that time.  Unfortunately, the cancer has spread to his liver.  Surgery is not a feasible option.

Although the federal CERB program has provided some relief, the family's expenses continue to mount.  Roel's wife Cris has ceased working in order to help care for Roel and their daughters. 

The global pandemic has resulted in difficulties for many businesses and individuals.  Loss of employment coupled with a diagnosis of aggressive colorectal cancer for Roel has created an enormously stressful situation for Roel and his family.  Other than his immediate family, he has no other relatives in Canada.

I am asking for any support that you can provide to my dear friend.  Your help will go a long way in helping to alleviate Roel's family's financial burdens so that they can cover their housing and essential expenses while Roel enters the fight for his life.   The goal is to generate a pool of funds from which Roel and his wife can draw upon periodically to cover expenses during Roel's battle with cancer.

I will post updates from Roel when he is able to relay them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for your support.

DONOR FAQ:

1.  Who you (fundraiser organizer) are and your relationship to the intended recipient(s) of your campaign’s donations?

I am a friend of the family.  I have organized this fundraiser for Roel Omampo, his wife Cris Omampo and their children.

2.  A detailed explanation of how the funds will be spent:

The ORIGINAL purpose of the fundraiser was to generate a pool of funds from which Roel and his wife can draw upon periodically to cover expenses during Roel's battle with cancer.

After Roel's passing on May 18, 2020, the funds raised will be for his wife Cris Omampo (beneficiary) to use for covering funeral and living expenses.

3.  What is the plan for ensuring your campaign’s donations reach their intended recipient(s). This could be clarifying that they will be added as the beneficiary of the campaign, or if they have authorized you to withdraw the funds on their behalf and deliver the money to them outside of GoFundMe.

Before he passed away I was authorized by Roel Omampo and his wife Cris Omampo to make arrangements to withdraw the funds on their behalf and deliver the money to them outside of GoFundMe.  I set up the withdrawal request on May 12, 2020 prior to his passing.  Since his wife was busy attending to Roel at the hospital, administratively it was easier for to have the funds withdrawn to my account and to deliver the  money to Roel/Cris outside of GoFundMe.

The first withdrawal is scheduled to be transferred on or around June 1, 2020.  I intend to either provide Cris with a money order/bank draft or to transfer the funds to her electronically (Interac email transfer).