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Fary de Leon, founder and president of the wellness organization FACES (center), Is shown here with part of the group’s administrative staff, Lilian Hernandez (left), treasurer, and Michelle De La Rosa (right), project manager.
When she immigrated from Haina in the Dominican Republic to the United States in 1986, Fary de Leon faced a number of immediate challenges – not least of which was her own family’s resistance to pursue her goals of higher education. They wanted her instead to work as soon, and as much, as she could so that she could help provide both for the family and back home.
But she persisted, and took classes to learn English and technical courses, which she explains, “opened doors to the professional world.” She went on to work in social services, to be married and gain social and financial security. As she puts it, “I had no intention of settling for a job in a factory.”
And when cancer came knocking, and doctors used words like “terminal” and “inoperable,” she refused, again, to give up.
“The several months that I spent recuperating from my illness gave me the opportunity to work towards realizing my dreams and my goals,” she says now. And those new goals became about lending others a helping hand.
De Leon founded FACES (an acronym which stands for Family, Advocacy, Counseling, Education and Support), an organization intended to offer support to women who are battling breast cancer, and all cancer, particularly Latinas who might be hindered in their treatment and recovery process by language barriers, socio-economic difficulties and limited access to care.
To this end, she has, with the support of New York State Assemblymember Guillermo Linares, organized a “Walk Against Cancer” this coming Sun., Sept. 25th at the corner of 165th Street and Audubon Avenue.
“We want to show our strength, and make clear that we will win this fight against cancer,” she explains.
To join the Walk Against Cancer, please visit www.latinfaces.org or visit Facebook: Latin Women Empower Faces.
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