Support for Roberto & Donna Treviño

Please join me in helping Roberto and Donna Treviño during this difficult time.

Roberto was diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer about five years ago. His treatment left him weak and fatigued, but the cancer seemed to be in remission. About two months ago, he began to experience serious abdominal pain. His doctors detected a mass pressing against his pancreas and liver and causing an intestinal blockage. He was hospitalized at Memorial Hospital in Yakima and was transferred by ambulance to the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle about ten days ago. He is now getting excellent care at UW. His oncologist and GI doc have determined that the mass is an aggressive and malignant tumor, and is causing the intestinal blockage. Treatment is complicated because he is weak and may have a difficult time surviving surgery. The UW docs determined that he had a heart attack while hospitalized at Memorial.

Lupe, Carlos, Donna, his nephew Rick, and I have visited with him at UW. We all believe he’s now getting excellent care.

Roberto has dedicated his life to seeking economic and social justice for farm workers in Washington State. I began to work with him in this cause in September, 1970, when hundreds of Yakima Valley hops workers went out on strike at 15 different hops ranches in the Valley. Roberto and his brother Carlos, along with Lupe Gamboa, Tomas Villanueva, and other young activists dropped everything and signed up as organizers for the United Farm Workers of America for $5 a week. His dedication to “La Causa” has been lifelong, and his finances have suffered as a result. Donna and Roberto receive about $15,000 a year in Social Security benefits and are helped along with Food Stamps.

I’m not a doctor, but I believe Roberto is gravely ill. He may need palliative or hospice care soon. Lupe and I have helped Donna over the past year with some cash gifts. Many of you have inquired how you can help. I’m gratified to report that LELO (Legacy of Equality, Leadership, and Organizing), a Seattle nonprofit originally founded by Tyree Scott, Roberto, and other representative of racial minority labor groups, has stepped up and has sent $1,000 to Donna before this GoFundMe appeal was created. I’m personally sending Donna $2,500 today. We want to raise $30,000 for these folks who’ve dedicated their lives to winning racial, economic, and social justice for others.

So - please dig deep and help us help Donna and Roberto live out their lives with dignity. Anyone who needs more information can message me via this page and I will respond.

***Note: Michael Fox is the organizer of this fundraiser, and he is the person who wrote the post above. Michael is my dad and I am helping him get everything posted on GoFundMe.