My tio Pedro, is the warmth in the room and the spark of conversation. He is the kind of man that unites friends and family to gather and creates the memories you are thankful for. With an open heart he contributes the joy and love that matters most, the kind of friend you don’t doubt.

Two weeks ago, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, the kind of news that can break any man’s spirit. The immediate care he needed left him and his partner depleted of all their life savings. They are heartbroken by the reality he faces, the deterioration of his body and the terrifying mounting bills that every day expenses and treatment would require. Without the ability to work, and the means to face the financial burden of his condition, he has lost hope.

The price of cancer treatment cost: chemotherapy, medication, hospitalization, aftercare, and transportation is outside of their financial reality. Treatment at a Peruvian hospital, while accessible, is unable to match the urgency of his condition at stage 4. Clinical care would provide direct treatment, but not only is it limited to eight specialized oncology clinics in the country, it is also incredibly expensive per day. He has no direct familial or financial support other than my family to face this battle.

Although my uncle doesn’t believe in his chances of fighting this disease, I wish to restore his hope, and through this platform give him the ability to fight. Big or small, the impact of your contribution would directly provide a quality of life and dignity that would be unattainable otherwise. If you can’t donate, sharing this page would be more than a meaningful contribution.

My dad once told me when he was younger, his little brother Pedro would never let go of his hand, out of fear and trust. Today I wish to remind a good man to keep holding on, he can trust us to fight and not let go too.