Arlington Woman Fights Cancer And Drug Cartels
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ARLINGTON (CBS11) – A breast cancer patient at the Arlington Cancer Center is not only fighting her battle with the disease, but she's also taking on a fight to save villagers in her native Mexico from the hands of drug cartels.
After beating breast cancer in 2000, Beatriz Carregha wanted to find a way to make the best of her second shot at life and give back.
She says she was in the isolated mountains of the Mexican state of Guerrero when she had an idea to help the villagers there.
"This is it...this is what I have to do," Carregha said.
She befriended the locals and the artisans who hand-make baskets and she started a business called, Makaua.
Her company now sell those baskets across the globe. The money gives the villagers a new source of income so they won't need to depend on drug money.
"They have the option of an income...in the region where they live," says Carregha.
Her work with villagers had become her main focus in life until recently when her breast cancer came back.
Her oncologist, Dr. Karel Dicke at the Arlington Cancer Center said Carregha's work with the villagers is giving her new strength to fight this most recent battle with cancer.
"She acts like a victor and not like a victim," says Dr. Dicke.
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