Everyone has donated a few bucks here and there for cancer foundations. It is a simple and easy way to help others with the burden of financial and emotional circumstances. But Luis Ramirez better known as “DJ Big Lou” has found a way to not only help the cancer foundation, Light of Hope, but also by losing weight and motivating the community to genuinely donate.
James Richard Closner, passed away in December 2001 of Esophagus Cancer. A graduate from Texas A&M International University, and owner of a construction company, he was recognized for many participations and involvements throughout the community.
“He was a good Samaritan,” says Ramirez. “He always helped out everyone, always giving out money for foundations. He was a good part of the community.”
Through his cancer treatments, James realized that many people diagnosed with cancer were unable to seek other doctors’ advice, travel or lodging due to lack of insurance and monies. With this in mind, he made a commitment to himself that he would start a foundation to help those patients in need. Unfortunately, he was unable to begin his foundation but his friends and family carried his wishes on his behalf.
Light of Hope – The James Closner Foundation is a community based non-profit organization located at the Closner Business Park in La Feria, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. This foundation was established in 2002 with the intention to help indigent cancer patients of all ages, women, men and children from Rio Grande Valley and Laredo, Texas.
The contributions for the foundation will provide cancer patients and families with:(1)Emergency travel and lodging (2)Availability to seek another cancer physician and treatments in other cities(3)Assistance to help patient’s families needed resources and support groups to mentor them through their difficult times
For four years Ramirez has been part of the foundation but this is the second time he has committed himself to lose weight while helping out. On October 1st, Ramirez’ began his goal to lose 60 pounds in three months and also obtaining 200 sponsors. Friends and people of the community are donating one dollar to five dollars per pound he loses. So far he has 107 sponsors and 6 donations.
“I want to make it a life time thing. Hopefully next year I can get people to do what I did. It’s a real hard commitment,” says Ramirez about his goals for the foundation. He is eating healthy along with going to the Olympus gym twice a day.
Businesses helping out with the training and supplying include: Pura Nutriion, Olympus, Univision and Viva Laredo.
You know what a distressing and awful situation it is, if anyone close to you has ever been diagnosed with cancer. The foundation is focused to raise the level of hope to patients and the community by receiving help.
If you would like to donate, be a part of this foundation and encourage DJ Big Lou to lose weight, feel free to email him at biglou@closnerconstruction.com