Bringing Hope and Love

What will you feel if two people in your family are stricken with cancer? It will be difficult, but it can also be an opportunity to help others.

In 2010, Nini Sacro founded CAC (Climb Against Cancer) Pilipinas when her siblings were diagnosed with cancer. She asked for prayers not only for those battling cancer, but also for the community of cancer warriors.

The idea of climbing mountains and praying for cancer warriors on mountaintops was born.

Ms. Erian Gail Guarizo saw Nini’s post on Facebook and responded to the call. Erian, like Nini, is a mountaineer.

They organized nationwide simultaneous climbs with various groups of mountaineers to raise funds for indigent cancer patients and for the construction of the pediatric ward of the Philippine General Hospital.

The initiative is now on its 11th year.

Nini’s brother passed away, but her sister survived.

From climbing mountains and prayer warriors for cancer patients, the movement evolved into addressing other forms of “cancer” in society -- poverty, lack of education, among others.

As mountaineers, they feel that they must give back to the mountain communities that they visited.

CAC Pilipinas started a fundraising campaign for school supplies, slippers, food, and other things to bring to the communities as gifts.

Erian, meanwhile, was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and 2018, but she continued with her advocacy in helping others. She would have continued her climbs and would have been busy with outreach projects in communities if not for the pandemic.

CAC Pilipinas is very thankful for the 11 years. It continues to exist amid financial difficulties through the kindness of friends and people.

Despite the pandemic, the group continues its mission.

In 2020, members cooked for frontliners, street dwellers, and stranded individuals, giving birth to community kitchens with the help of volunteers.

Every day, CAC Pilipinas witnesses small miracles happening. They continue to cook and distribute meals to people, and the Supervised Neighborhood Play in the Manila North Cemetery of the Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation Inc. is one of its beneficiaries.

Aside from food, students have been provided with learning materials during the recent “moving up ceremony” in the cemetery.

Erian even donated milk and other gifts to the students. A new batch of students received envelopes, notebooks, pencil, crayons, and slippers.

God uses people to help others, especially during the pandemic. We are blessed because we have the chance to meet people who are kind and have a good heart, and who think of the good of others, like CAC Pilipinas.