Sad!
Jaime Escalante, the East Los Angeles high school teacher the 1988 film Stand and Deliver was based on, has been battling cancer but he is now unable to afford his treatments.
Cast members of the film are asking for donations and actress Vanessa Marquez confirmed that $5,000 has been raised but $25,000 is still needed for Jaime to pay for his treatments.
Escalante is 79 years old and the film was based on his story of turning a group of poor students at Garfield High School into calculus champs.
This is absolutely terrible — and a prime example of why we need better healthcare in this country!!
Keep fighting, Jaime!
[Image via AP Images.]