The Migrant Workers Support (MWP) Team at the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre is starting this fundraising campaign for their client, Jose Gilberto May Cauich. Jose is a 53-year-old seasonal farm worker from Mexico, who has been recently diagnosed with End of Stage Heart Failure and Chronic Chagas disease. Consequently, he is in urgent need of a heart transplant which will considerably improve his chances of survival. The funds that we raise from this campaign will be used to cover Jose’s medical expenses, including his post-heart transplant care, and to support his family back home who depends on him, namely his widowed mother, wife and two young children aged 13 and 11.
His treatment is expensive and the road to recovery is long. He needs all the help he can get. Our aim is to collect $150,000 to help Jose May!
Any donation helps, no matter how small! Every dollar counts, and your act of kindness will be deeply appreciated. Thank you!
DONATION EMAIL: josegilertomaycauich@gmail.com
Account Number: 108921483587
*The donated money will be directly deposited into Jose’s bank account*
Check out the following links to read more and share the story:
1. Dedicated page on Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre Website
2. Link to the news article published in Niagarathisweek.com
Jose’s Story
Jose started working as a farm worker at the young age of 12 in order to support his family in the small town of Santa Cruz, located in the Municipality of Calkini (in the State of Campeche) in Mexico. He inherited his knowledge of the land from his Maya ancestors and his father. As Jose grew older, he heard about the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) – a farm work program that would allow him to work in Canada. Jose worked hard to teach himself Spanish in the hopes of getting selected, which he eventually did in 2004. That year, he left his home for the first time and flew thousands of miles to Canada so that he could improve the quality of life for his family in Mexico. Since then and for more than 19 years, Jose has been coming to Canada year after year for up to 8 months at a time to work as a seasonal farm worker.
Unfortunately, due to Jose’s recent diagnosis, he was forced to stop working in April. Since Jose stopped working, things have become very difficult for his family as they depend on his income and face many challenges of their own. His 13-year-old son suffers from Rickets (a disease of the bones) and has to attend therapy three times a week and needs medication regularly. His wife’s health is deteriorating due to diabetes. Therefore, Jose’s elderly mother and his 11-year-old daughter have had to manage the day-to-day affairs of the family. In order to make ends meet, the family tends to a small piece of land in the backyard of their home.
