Local Hero Battles Brain Tumor
Donation protected
You might remember the name Riza Kasikcioglu from news stories earlier in 2017. When he and his wife saw a fire at the Oliver Place building at 118th Street and Jasper Avenue in January 2017, he not only called 911 for help but he ran into the building to warn the residents . He knocked on doors, yelled for people to get out, even carried a woman in a wheelchair from the 7th floor down.
This wonderful man who was our local hero just about a year ago when he fought to save lives that day is now fighting his own battle with a brain tumor.
He had just opened his Donair shop, Maximo's Pizza & Donair a few months before the fire last January. As a first generation immigrant he used up his life savings and took on a lot of debt when he opened that business. Like many small business owners struggling to keep afloat, he doesn't have any supplemental insurance, or emergency funds he can fall back to.
Mr. Kasikcioglu is currently at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute awaiting brain surgery. Initial tests are somewhat promising, as it's possible that the tumor in his brain might be a benign one. However, we were told that doctor's won't know exactly until after the surgery. And still, it’s a complicated brain surgery that’s awaiting him.
Riza has two young children. His Pizza & Donair shop has been closed for the last few days, as he was running it by himself. He has a mortgage to pay.
As the Turkish Canadian Community we are trying to organize volunteers to re-open his Donair Shop so we can run the place and help the family financially while Riza has his surgery and then recovers from it... but we expect this to be a lengthy process.
If you can donate to this campaign to help his family during this difficult time we will appreciate it. If you can't donate financially, follow this page for updates. Once we can get his Pizza and Donair Shop up and running again, you might be able to help by ordering from, or stopping by his shop for lunch.
I know Mr. Riza Kasikcioglu through my involvement in the Turkish Canadian Society. Just like he jumped in to help those in need during the fire, he has been a wonderful volunteer for our community as well, helping any way he can.
All donations will go directly to Mr. Kasikcioglu's family to pay for their living expenses and any medical expenses not covered by AHS.
CBC Story about Riza
This wonderful man who was our local hero just about a year ago when he fought to save lives that day is now fighting his own battle with a brain tumor.
He had just opened his Donair shop, Maximo's Pizza & Donair a few months before the fire last January. As a first generation immigrant he used up his life savings and took on a lot of debt when he opened that business. Like many small business owners struggling to keep afloat, he doesn't have any supplemental insurance, or emergency funds he can fall back to.
Mr. Kasikcioglu is currently at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute awaiting brain surgery. Initial tests are somewhat promising, as it's possible that the tumor in his brain might be a benign one. However, we were told that doctor's won't know exactly until after the surgery. And still, it’s a complicated brain surgery that’s awaiting him.
Riza has two young children. His Pizza & Donair shop has been closed for the last few days, as he was running it by himself. He has a mortgage to pay.
As the Turkish Canadian Community we are trying to organize volunteers to re-open his Donair Shop so we can run the place and help the family financially while Riza has his surgery and then recovers from it... but we expect this to be a lengthy process.
If you can donate to this campaign to help his family during this difficult time we will appreciate it. If you can't donate financially, follow this page for updates. Once we can get his Pizza and Donair Shop up and running again, you might be able to help by ordering from, or stopping by his shop for lunch.
I know Mr. Riza Kasikcioglu through my involvement in the Turkish Canadian Society. Just like he jumped in to help those in need during the fire, he has been a wonderful volunteer for our community as well, helping any way he can.
All donations will go directly to Mr. Kasikcioglu's family to pay for their living expenses and any medical expenses not covered by AHS.
CBC Story about Riza
Organizer
Sinem Senol
Organizer
Edmonton, AB
