PROTO holds Telethon to raise funds for Jose Cruz

Jose Cruz

Another person who is in desperate need of help is Jose Cruz, a dialysis patient and activist. And the group, People Reaching Out To Others, (PROTO) have been putting in countless hours in efforts to raise funds for Cruz, who is in need of treatment for the illness that is literally eating away at his body. Cruz suffers from micro vascular disease and has lost a foot and two fingers so far. But the treatment he needs requires him to travel to Guatemala and the cost tallies up to fifteen thousand dollars. And that figure is drawing nearer because PROTO has garnered assistance from various unions that they work with, through dollar drives in schools, by placing bottles in business where contributions can be dropped and through direct donations to Cruz’ account by persons who were moved by his stories in the news. Today PROTO held a mini telethon to raise the remaining funds for Cruz. One of its members, Mark Usher, says it’s their way of living up to their name… People Reaching Out to People.

Mark Usher, Member, PROTO

“We’ve gotten three numbers and, as you can see, we have some volunteers from St. Catherine Academy who are manning the phone. So we have asked some radio stations and as much media as possible to advertise the numbers and we have gotten good responses so far. We commenced seven a.m. this morning and so far the last tally I got, we passed the two thousand dollars mark. So we only need—today when we started we only needed six thousand dollars to finish the fifteen thousand dollars because prior to that we had raised nine thousand dollars so we should be able to wrap it up between today and tomorrow’s telethon.”

Delahnie Bain

“What are the numbers that people can call to make their contributions?”

Mark Usher

“Okay, the numbers are 203-3041, 203-3042 and 203-3043. You can call those numbers anytime now. We’re gonna go now right through the night so it’s a full two day telethon. You can call those numbers anytime. We have people who will man the phones; we have people coming in and taking shifts and then we’ll be able to take your pledge and then we will make arrangements for the pick up or anything that is required.”

Mark Usher

Delahnie Bain

“If between today and tomorrow, you don’t make that six thousand dollars, what next?”

Mark Usher

“Well, the way how I operate in 2010 we will make that six thousand dollars; there’s no ifs, buts, or maybes. We will make it. In fact, we’re so hopefully optimistic that we figure we’re going to over the six thousand that will cap off his fifteen thousand and what would be a good idea, what has been suggested—I know I will have to get the permission—on the news last night was the seven year old girl that is in dire need of medical attention now because of the result of the gunshot. Any money that we make in excess, I’m pretty sure Mr. Cruz will say yes to this, we would love to get in touch with her family and pass on that extra cash to that seven year old.”

If all goes well, Cruz is scheduled to go for the treatment in Guatemala next week Tuesday.