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Felix Arguelles hasn't added a story.
By becoming practically unemployed and having his private car burned by accident, taxi driver Felix Arguelles lost the two main ways to support his immediate family. But he is about to lose something more valuable: his dream.
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FELIX’S DREAM
In 2013, Mr. Arguelles had two jobs, one as a taxi driver working for the state-owned agency CUBATAXI and another job, on his days off and in the morning on his way to work, operating as private taxi driver with his beloved Fiat car (nicknamed Helix). He also had an ambitious dream: to create a private taxi agency with 5-10 cars driven by experienced elite drivers
Documentary made in Cuba about Felix and his dream
The first loss
In January 2014, Felix almost lost his job with Cubataxi when the car he was driving broke down and could not be repaired. He then spent about 9 months without work and without earning any money thru his official job. But he still had Helix, his private cab. He was able to operate as a private taxi driver and make some pocket money.
The second loss
In June this year, while his car was being worked at a private automotive body shop, a terrible accident happened. By negligence, the operator forgot to remove the gas tank to work on the car and a fire started in the engine area that left it destroyed. Luckily the fire was contained and the car practically burned to the ground. The insurance company declared it a Total Loss.
Felix didn’t give up and started doing his best to try and get at least a second hand car. He held several long conversations with ESEN, cuban insurance agency trying to negotiate this. A few days ago (October 3rd), the verdict was met: the agency would only give him 9000 Cuban Pesos (~375 CUC /~430 USD), only enough to buy a new windshield.
Current Options
To support his family, Arguelles has partnered with other drivers to offer city tours to foreign visitors because of his knowledge of the subject and fluency in several languages. This work is casual, but it helps to bring food to his family table. He might not be able to continue doing this soon as the mandatory retirement age is 65 and he is already 67. Even though he feels relatively strong and doesn’t think he is too old yet, he has agreed to undergo medical tests/clinical studies as there are suspicions he might be having some health issues related to prostrate cancer. He is not afraid as his wife herself is a survivor of cancer
However, the main goal now for Felix is to repair his car even though it might need to be rebuilt. In that way, besides earning enough money, he can be back in the race to eventually achieve his private taxi agency dream.
In his current situation it is practically impossible to achieve this. The cost of the repairs to his vehicle are around 7000 USD (~ 6000 CUC) and as of now he has only around $500 USD (which includes what the insurance company paid).
ABOUT THIS PAGE AND ITS FUNDRAISING GOAL
Advised by his son, Felix has agreed to the creation of this page to provide aid in the form of donation from family, friends, former clients and any other person wishing to contribute to this cause.
The goal is to raise $6500. Any amount is appreciated and valued as it would bring us a little closer to achieving the target for repairing Helix. The hope is that Helix be reborn from the ashes like the Phoenix bird. Even without the full amount, but with enough to start repairing the car partially, work will commence and the progress will be updated on this page.
Your help is important.Thanks for helping to save a dream!
Contact
If you wish to contact Felix, please call him at (+53-7) 764 3038 or (+53-5) 268 2194 or email him at felixarguelles @ yahoo.es
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