Hero of kids with cancer ends 2nd trek for a cause

Trekker Froilan Salaysay (left, first row) and his companions are welcomed by some of the young cancer patients being treated at the National Children’s Hospital after his 100-day journey. PHOTOS BY NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

As he pedaled across the country to raise funds for the National Children’s Hospital (NCH), 36-year-old Froilan Salaysay drew strength from the young cancer patients who would benefit from his advocacy.

Last Friday, Salaysay was welcomed by the patients and staff of the Quezon City hospital as he ended his 100-day journey which started at Rizal Park and took him to eastern Luzon, the Visayas region, Mindanao and then back again to Luzon. All in all, he traveled 7,000 kilometers, covering Regions I to XIII, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Caraga region.

In 2014, the former preschool teacher and call center employee had walked across the country, racking up a distance of 2,500 km, for the same cause. Upon the prodding of broadcast journalist and film director Cesar Apolinario, Salaysay marked the anniversary of his first trek on Oct. 1, 2015, this time by going on an even longer journey but on a bamboo bike or “bambike.”

An adventurer at heart with a soft spot for children, Salaysay—a native of Bulacan province—left behind his business of designing zip lines and climbing walls, for another trip that would hopefully once again result in an outpouring of help for the government hospital catering to poor patients.

The 250-bed hospital currently has 185 patients. Among those who welcomed Salaysay and his companions on Friday was a child whose eyes had swollen shut due to sarcoma, a rare kind of cancer.

“They deserve to have their lives and enjoy every moment of it,” he said.

Still, it broke Salaysay’s heart and filled him with doubt when he learned that two NCH patients who were close to him had died.

“Should I continue this? I think what I’m doing is not enough,” he said. But NCH social worker Remy Serapion, who coordinates with him in the campaign, reminded him of other children hoping to have a healthy life.

“They think I’m a hero, but I’m not. I’m just a person doing the right thing,” Salaysay said.

He narrated that on his journey, he met other bikers who joined him and “adopted” him for a stretch. At night, he was hosted by fire stations, military camps and friends he had met in his previous trek.

Not everyone was as welcoming, however. According to Salaysay, he also encountered people who thought he was crazy for going on such a long journey. Yet, there were others who encouraged him, who wanted to give to his cause but didn’t quite know how to go about it.

Even a teddy bear would do, Salaysay told them, as these toys are distributed to the children during Christmas. For those interested, they can deposit their donations in the NCH bank account.