Ming Tsai Instagram – My next Cooking Live event with @familyreach is tomorrow, and I can’t help but take a stroll through memory lane and remember why I got started with such a great non-profit.
In 2010, my journey with Family Reach began when Executive Director Carla Tardif introduced me to Darlene, a young woman dying of osteosarcoma. One of Darlene’s last wishes was to come to Blue Ginger and eat a meal I cooked for her and her family. Without hesitation, I said yes. Fulfilling Darlene’s wish for a meal at Blue Ginger with her family and seeing the joy it brought them amidst their struggles was beyond moving.
Shortly after, Carla shared Raquel and Mikalo’s story. When Raquel’s son was diagnosed with cancer, she made the difficult decision to leave her job and support him through his treatment. As expenses piled up, they were eventually compelled to seek shelter in a homeless facility, where Mikalo continued his chemotherapy. The doctor emphasized the necessity of a bone marrow transplant for Mikalo’s survival. However, due to the shelter’s conditions, the procedure couldn’t be performed safely without a sterile environment post-transplant. Family Reach immediately stepped in, got them out of the homeless shelter and into their own apartment. Upon hearing this story, I knew I had to get involved and help beyond cooking a nice meal for families in the restaurant. That was 14 years ago and I haven’t looked back since.
Help me help @familyreach make a difference in so many families’ lives. Click the link in my bio to donate to Family Reach to help me reach my goal of raising $12 million! #dogood | Posted on 20/May/2024 06:10:26
