Just last year, my dear friend Jasmine’s 5-year old Mio was diagnosed with Leukemia. Learning about the news was heartbreaking, but seeing how many people reached out to their family was nothing short of amazing. As of the moment, Mio is getting better everyday, making us realize that there is, indeed, sunshine after the rain.

Now, another family member of mine is fighting this dreadful disease. My 15-year old cousin, Benjie, was diagnosed with Lymphoma just recently. Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the lymphocytes of the immune system and presents as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. It is treatable with chemotherapy, and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable, depending on the histology, type, and stage of the disease. Source: Wikipedia

Knowing that another person close to my heart has cancer saddens me but I am comforted by the fact that like Mio, he will get better. And like Mio, Benjie’s struggle can inspire others, too.

As of now, Benjie already had three sessions of Chemotherapy. The doctor said his body is responding well, but he will need to complete at least six sessions to fully recover. One session costs Php140,000, and we are in dire need of financial assistance. I am humbly knocking on your kind hearts to support our fund raising projects, which are the ff:

1. We Can Help Benjie CD

Spearheaded by my brother, Paulo, this is a music compilation CD of local indie artists. The CD contains the ff original tracks:

1. Penguin627 – “Save Me” (http://www.penguin627.com)
2. Nevermind – “Escalator” (http://nevermindmusic.multiply.com/)
3. I-ray – “Safe” (http://iraymusic.multiply.com/)
4. Reklamo – “Beunique” (http://www.blasterteam.com)
5. Lochness – “Destination Alone” (http://www.myspace.com/lochness48)… See More
6. Shut Eye View – “Tara Na” (http://shuteyeview.multiply.com/)
7. Deo of Crude Oz – “Shine” (http://www.myspace.com/crudeoz)
8. Trapeze – “Soldiers” (http://www.myspace.com/trapezemusician)
9. Giniling Festival – “Barbero” (http://www.facebook.com/ginilingfestival)
10. Odat – “Unlitxt” (http://www.blasterteam.com)
11. HedgeZero – “Ode” (http://hedgezero.multiply.com)
12. My Odessa – “Black and Blue” (http://www.blasterteam.com)
13. Paramita – “Bitag” (http://www.blasterteam.com)

A copy costs Php150 (exclusive of shipping), which will go directly to Benjie’s hospital fund. To order, simply send an email to Paulo Rodriguez at pj_rodz@hotmail.com with the SUBJECT: CD ORDER and include the ff details–Name, Mailing address, Mobile Number, and Quantity. He will get in touch with you re payment and other questions/concerns that you may have.

2. Garage Sale for a Cause

We started a garage sale last weekend and we are happy to report that we were able to raise roughly around Php 15,000–just by selling stuff that we really don’t need anymore. We plan to do this every weekend and we need more stuff to sell. So if you have clothes, shoes, accessories, kitchenware, or anything you want to donate, feel free to drop the items at my house in Mandaluyong. I can also offer to pick it up at your place, if ever. Just let me know.

Please support our endeavors. With your generosity, you can help another boy’s life be normal again. Cancer is, indeed, such a scary word. But with faith in God and in others, it makes us stronger and fearless than ever before.

-Kabbie

It’s hard to imagine that my cousin Benjie is 15 years old.  Yeah, he’s already into video games and part of the varsity basketball team in Don Bosco Technical College.  Sure, he’s in high school and just recently chosen Drafting as his specialty.  But I will always remember him as the ever smiling baby boy that was sooo cute, my mom and tita would enter him in baby photo contests hoping he’d land a commercial.  He was our “bunso”, the youngest cousin living in our compound. He is always in his best behavior, very quiet and polite.  As he grew older (and more handsome) and started school, he was a consistent best in conduct awardee.  And, unlike most of us in the family, he took interest in sports which landed him a center position in his school’s basketball team.  Like any typical teen, he’s got everything going for him.  Good grades, great friends and a loving family…little did we know, God has a BIG challenge waiting for him.

A little over a month ago, Benjie the varsity player, the video game fanatic, the cute baby boy, was diagnosed with cancer.

Lymphoma to be exact.  Stage 3.

How do you react to such devastating news like that?  Do you ask why?  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why someone so young?  Why this family?  Why him?

But you know what?  We will not ask stupid questions.  We will not put blame on anyone or anything.  We will not let Benjie feel like there is no hope.

Instead, we will fight.  And we will beat this stupid cancer until it craps itself.

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN.

As members of his family, we can provide benjie the moral support that he needs.  However, we are asking for your help with his chemotherapy, medicine and other hospital bills.  Any amount is welcome.  Feel free to get in touch with us for any questions or inquiries.

Details are below:

BDO Savings Account Number: 693.001.0080

Account Name: Susan B. Ayson (Benjie’s mom)

Please help Benjie fight cancer. I know we can.

-Katz