Community Raises $17K for AeroCare Paramedic with Brain Cancer
By: Michaela MacDonald
Updated: March 12, 2013
Almost 600 people came out to the fundraiser for Juan Alvarado, a young father recently diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, who has done so much to help others working as an AeroCare nurse.
"The love the support and the turnout has been just overwhelming," said Essie Alvarado, Juan's sister.
She says she is in awe of the amount of support AeroCare and the community have given to her brother Juan, who was recently diagnosed with chordoma.
"People from Midland, people from Lamesa have come down and everybody supporting my brother," said Essie Alvarado.
"His family, coworkers just even people who have never met us the way they have stepped up to help us its been amazing so we thank everyone for being here its been a heartfelt event," said Aaron Christan, who works with Juan at AeroCare and helped organize the event.
AeroCare estimates that tonight's event raised $17,000. Those funds will be used to help Alvarado see chordoma specialists in Boston and Philadelphia, and support his two young daughters.
"I want it to help me live so I can see my girls longer," said Juan Alvarado.
Alvarado has already had five surgeries since he was diagnosed in mid-December. He's hoping one more surgery will be enough, and he'll be around for his girls for a long time.
"She was like you have to have the surgery daddy for us because we need to have you around for a long time so I have to have the surgery. She was like we'll pray for you we'll be our little wolf pack and we will be here for you," said Alvarado.
If you couldn't make it out to the event tonight, you can donate to Juan's cause at any City Bank. It's called the Juan Alvarado Benefit Fund.
"The love the support and the turnout has been just overwhelming," said Essie Alvarado, Juan's sister.
She says she is in awe of the amount of support AeroCare and the community have given to her brother Juan, who was recently diagnosed with chordoma.
"People from Midland, people from Lamesa have come down and everybody supporting my brother," said Essie Alvarado.
"His family, coworkers just even people who have never met us the way they have stepped up to help us its been amazing so we thank everyone for being here its been a heartfelt event," said Aaron Christan, who works with Juan at AeroCare and helped organize the event.
AeroCare estimates that tonight's event raised $17,000. Those funds will be used to help Alvarado see chordoma specialists in Boston and Philadelphia, and support his two young daughters.
"I want it to help me live so I can see my girls longer," said Juan Alvarado.
Alvarado has already had five surgeries since he was diagnosed in mid-December. He's hoping one more surgery will be enough, and he'll be around for his girls for a long time.
"She was like you have to have the surgery daddy for us because we need to have you around for a long time so I have to have the surgery. She was like we'll pray for you we'll be our little wolf pack and we will be here for you," said Alvarado.
If you couldn't make it out to the event tonight, you can donate to Juan's cause at any City Bank. It's called the Juan Alvarado Benefit Fund.
