Richie Ramone and Izzy Malik will rock for cancer

One of the many burdens being diagnosed with cancer comes with is figuring out how to pay for the treatments.

To help patients cover their co-payments, El Portal Merced Cancer Institute is having a concert to raise money.

“We hope we can do a lot for the patients that way,” said Izzy Malik, organizer of the fundraiser.

Richie Ramone and Izzy Malik will be performing along with two special guests on Oct. 1 at the Multicultural Arts Center in Merced. Tickets are being sold online at tinyurl.com/roktoberfest2016 for $12 or for $10 when bought in person at El Portal, 3365 G St., Suite 60, in Merced.

VIP meet-and-greet tickets with Ramone, former drummer for the punk band the Ramones, will go on sale in two weeks for $30.

Dr. Imtiaz Malik, Izzy’s father, is a medical oncologist and hematologist for El Portal. He said there are many factors that affect the livelihood of cancer patients, including financial burdens.

“Just hearing my dad talk about patients struggling for even $5 co-payments made me want to do something to help,” Izzy said.

Cancer often doesn’t allow a patient to keep functioning, Malik said, forcing them to miss work or stop working, further complicating their financial troubles.

“All these together make financial problems worse,” Malik said. “Insurance in this country makes it even more difficult.”

Marivel Zamarripa, office manager for El Portal, said some medications can cost up to $7,000, and insurance helps to an extent, but sometimes patients have no other option but to pay out of pocket.

“The more people we have, the more funds we have to help patients,” Zamarripa said. “On top of the illness it’s so hard to deal with the financial strain.”

Zamarripa said she can see the difference in patients when they know they have assistance, and it makes a great impact. Patients can stop worrying about paying for the treatment and can feel relaxed and relieved, Maravel said.

“We just want to stay active in the community,” Malik said. “It’s a very small effort to at least help them with co-payments.”

This story was originally published August 23, 2016 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Richie Ramone and Izzy Malik will rock for cancer."