Getting another cup of coffee? Needing to satisfy your cravings again? What if your next order can be more meaningful and rewarding? Like having your favorite drink made not only for yourself but also for someone who is currently in need of help?
This Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, you can go from craving coffee to saving a life.
Life for “R”, like that of many other ovarian cancer patients, was never the same since the battle began. R has always been tough: working non-stop, raising her kids as she juggles multiple tasks in and out of the house, and continuing her full-time job despite having to deal with all the medical procedures and therapies at the moment. R is a supeRwoman.
But sometimes, even heroes need assistance.
And that’s where her daughter, Reg, and the latter’s boyfriend, Paul, came in. As Reg maintains her Project R Preloved shop online, Paul started Gram Zero Brews earlier this month, brewing every cup with love.
“Para kay R. R is my love’s mom. Like me, she also loves coffee, albeit the more traditional kind. Unfortunately, she can’t indulge as much as my love and I do because of what ails her: ovarian cancer. While she is currently in remission, she is still in need of medication which costs around P50,000 per dose. This Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we want to fuel your days as we raise funds to fuel her treatment by selling coffee for a cause,” he expressed.
In an interview with Traffic Digest, Reg shared how they all started this fight against her mother’s illness. As the world faces the uncertainties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, a greater challenge came to their family as the empowered woman who has always been a source of strength began to face an uninvited guest. At that time, her late father was also battling with “Big C”.
“Mommy got diagnosed in April 2020. Really poor timing kasi start ng pandemic and my dad got diagnosed din with cancer. Ang hirap din kasi my sister was starting med school pa lang. With the help ng tita kong doctor, friends ng mom ko from elementary, high school, and college organizations, we were able to afford ‘yong operation to remove her uterus and ovaries including the tumor. Plus, nakapagsimula rin ng chemo niya as soon as it was okay to do so,” she recalled.
Then last year, the family had to face its recurrence, starting another cycle of chemotherapy.
“Tapos mga late 2022, nagkaroon ng recurrence. So chemo ulit, this time nine cycles naman. And nag-recommend din for her to start immunotherapy, to prolong her life and help her body fight cancer. ‘Yong immunotherapy is 21 cycles. And ‘yong gamot is way more expensive than chemo,” she shared.
Because of this, they all had to work hard. Paul, a passionate coffee homebrewer who has been joining local competitions, decided to use his skills to help Reg raise funds.
“Hopefully, mabayaran namin lahat eventually. And hopefully, once Mommy is able to retire na, maging komportable din retirement niya ’cause she deserves it and needs it, given the stress of getting sick and being the head of the household,” she expressed.
At the moment, Gram Zero Brew accepts orders by batch, as he also has a full-time job and a number of responsibilities to fulfill.
To get updated and extend support, one may follow Gram Zero Brews and Project R Preloved.
For food, drinks, and dining places that make the world stop and make the world go, visit Traffic Digest‘s Food & Restaurant Section.