A lady helped by cancer charity PALS in her darkest moments, is now determined to return the favour with a variety show and dinner fundraising event.

It was going to cost Paz Syjuco, gastrointestinal cancer survivor, $3,500 a month to pay for medication to stop her tumour from redeveloping ­­­— the equivalent of rent for a small apartment in Bermuda.

“I thought surgery would be the end of it,” said Mrs Syjuco, “but I also needed medication.”

She works as a caregiver for an elderly lady and only has Health Insurance Plan (HIP) insurance which didn’t cover the cost of her medication.

Mrs Syjuco is originally from the Philippines, but has worked in Bermuda since 1986.

“I googled generic drugs, but it was too complicated to bring the generic to Bermuda,” she said. “I had to take it whether I liked it or not, so I went to the pharmacy. The lady there said your insurance is only HIP so you have to pay the whole thing. She said why don’t you ask PALS for help. At first I ignored what she said, but when I got home, I thought I’d better try.”

When she went to the PALS office, the receptionist looked at her and said ‘how can I help you today’. Mrs Syjuco was so overcome with emotion, she burst into tears.

“I couldn’t say anything I just cried and cried,” she said.

PALS welcomed her with open arms and immediately set about trying to find a way to help her.

Mrs Syjuco is no stranger to charity, although she was usually on the other end. She is chairman of Club 2000 a popular local club for people in the Filipino community, and has been vice-president of the Filipino Association. She has been involved with fundraising for charities such as Windreach Recreational Village, Hope Homes and the Salvation Army. And her charitable work has not been limited to Bermuda.

“When I go back to the Philippines for a holiday, I buy New Year’s Eve dinner for 200 people,” she said. “I started with just ten. I went to the grocery store and bought bags of food for people. New Year’s Eve is very special in the Philippines. There are many very poor people in the Philippines and it hurts me.”

At her 50th birthday she asked her friends and family to stop giving her gifts and just donate money to her charitable efforts.

“They support me every year,” she said. “December 12 is my birthday. This year, I wanted to do something for PALS.”

Working in conjunction with the Club 2000 and the Filipino Association, she will be hosting a variety show of dinner, dancing and singing at St Paul’s Christian Education Centre in Paget.

Ann Smith Gordon, President and CEO of PALS, said the help from Mrs Syjuco was most appreciated.

“We call Paz The Little Lady with the Big Big Heart,” said Ms Gordon. “I can tell you that this last year PALS’ is spending about $1,000 a month more than we are taking in. It is not that people are not being generous. We are getting almost as many donations. In the memorial donations the numbers of people who donated has increased, but the total amount is less. People just have less to give. When patients are having to have these enormously expensive drugs, it is almost impossible for them to pay on their own. Even if you have major medical, the drugs can be between $3,000 or $8,000 a month, and even 20 percent of that is a lot of money. It is very difficult. We want to help as many people as we can and as much as we can. “

The event will be held on December 1 at 6pm. Tickets are $35, for a dinner, show, raffle, door prize and dancing. Some of the funds may also be given to victims of the typhoon in the Philippines, depending on how much is raised.

If interested in buying a ticket call PALS at 236-7257 or telephone 799-9477.

“Helping people makes me happy,” she said. “I think it makes a big difference if we help each other.”

For more information see the PALS website at www.pals.bm.