Hello everyone,

We are starting this fundraiser for our beloved friend and yogi, Lei Ye, who has been battling advanced stage-4 cancer for the last year and a half. Affectionately known as Yo or Leo, he is without a doubt, one of the kindest and most caring souls you will ever meet. He has such a passionate vitality for life and does not hesitate to share this with everyone around him. He offers everything he can to help others laugh and enjoy life as much as he does. We hope this fund will contribute essential financial support to Leo, his two daughters Jasmine and Ginger, and his wife Sherry, as he fights to stay alive.

As autumn started in 2021, Leo began planning a family vacation for his wife and daughters. Like everyone else, the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns had affected his life a great deal—especially for a travel-lover like Leo. Having lived in Singapore, China, Japan, and Australia before getting married and having kids in Canada, Leo wanted to share his adventurous spirit with his girls. But just as he narrowed down destinations to a warm, sunny beach down south, a slight but persistent cough he caught began to worry him. Concerned that it could potentially be Covid, he sought medical attention to ensure he was not going to be spreading the virus. However, what they discovered was something completely different. With no other symptoms but a minor cough, Leo and his doctors found out that Leo had stage-4 lung cancer. As a non-smoker and an avid gym goer, it caught everyone off-guard. Nevertheless, we believe that it was thanks to his devotion to a healthy lifestyle that he had time to work together with his oncologist to find a new, experimental treatment that could shrink his tumours drastically.

But this potential miracle of medicine was denied by his insurance company. Leo was devastated, especially since his oncologist was convinced that this was the perfect treatment course for him. After some exhausting back and forth with his insurance, he was finally able to convince them to save his life by providing coverage. He started his regime of new pills to fight lung cancer that very same week.

His oncologist was right. After only five months, doctors were amazed at how well the treatment was going. In June 2022, it looked like he would not need chemotherapy at all! His doctors encouraged him to return to his active lifestyle, and perhaps even begin planning trips with his family again. Everyone was relieved and grateful for this second chance.

Things took a turn for the worse at the beginning of August though. Leo woke up one morning with an excruciating headache and double vision. After a trip to the emergency room and several consults with multiple doctors, a CAT scan revealed that a mass was forming in Leo’s skull.

Upon this discovery, Leo immediately began aggressive chemo and radiation therapy. As a result of his treatments, Leo had to take a medical leave of absence from work. Now, his wife Sherry has stepped up to become the primary caretaker for not only their two girls, but Leo as well. This requires constant care and attention, and leaves Sherry unable to work a regular job due to the responsibilities and needs she must fulfill for her family.

If you have had the opportunity to meet Leo in person, you know that his charismatic and friendly personality makes everyone feel welcomed and loved. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed help—alongside a shot of tequila and the most comforting hug you’ve ever received! You can knock on his door any time and he will greet you with open arms. He’s happy to not only cook you a delicious meal, but share his incredible and interesting life story; it’s full of struggles and triumphs that has taken him through more than three different career changes in over 10 different countries. Leo is certainly a force to be reckoned with, and he’s taken that tenacity and strength into his fight against cancer. It has been difficult for all who know him to see the toll this is taking though. We know that he has built a wonderfully diverse, compassionate community around him that reflects his character, and we are now reaching out to you for help.

Leo is doing everything he can to beat this terrible disease, but he needs assistance in supporting his family during this fight. We are asking for donations on their behalf towards his living, recovery and caregiving expenses. Any contribution is meaningful, but if you are unable to donate financially, it would be greatly appreciated if you could share this page with others who care for Leo and Sherry as well.

Thank you, and please continue to pray for Leo’s health and well-being during this crucial time.