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Pitbull sends his private plane to Puerto Rico so cancer patients can get chemo in the US mainland

Rapper said it was the least he could do after being praised by Puerto Rico congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez

Roisin O'Connor
Music Correspondent
Wednesday 27 September 2017 08:25 BST
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US rapper Pitbull is sending his private plane to help cancer patients in Puerto Rico
US rapper Pitbull is sending his private plane to help cancer patients in Puerto Rico (Getty)

US rapper Pitbull is sending his private plane to Puerto Rico so cancer patients can be brought over to US mainland for treatment.

The singer, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, was thanked by Puerto Rico congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez on Twitter.

"Thank you @pitbull for lending your private plane to move cancer patients from PR to USA so that they can get chemo," she wrote.

Pitbull, who is known for chart-topping tracks including "On The Floor" ft. Jennifer Lopez, and "Give Me Everything", responded that his effort was the least he could do.

"Thanks God we're blessed to help. Just doing my part," he told the Daily News on Tuesday 26 September.

The entire island of Puerto Rico has been left without power after being hit by Hurricane Maria, with officials calling the devastation a humanitarian disaster.

Millions are struggling for basic necessities such as adequate food, water, fuel and electricity.

Pitbull's collaborator Jennifer Lopez was recently praised for donating $1 million to aid those affected and urging the public to help in any way they can.

In a statement made in New York she said this week: "What's foremost in my mind and many others, is trying to figure out the best way to help.

"Our island of Puerto Rico has been hit by two of the most devastating hurricanes we've ever seen: Irma and Maria. Today, Puerto Rico needs our help.

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"I urge you to support and donate to the efforts of the first lady of Puerto Rico, Beatriz Rossello."

US President Donald Trump is apparently planning to visit Puerto Rico, but has not set a date yet due to "infrastructure concerns", according to a White House official.

He was slammed for a string of tweets which appeared to criticise the island's financial problems, claiming that it owed "billions of dollars to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with".

Pop star Marc Anthony, who was born in New York but whose parents are from Puerto Rico, sent a blistering tweet aimed at the US President telling him to "shut the f*** up about NFL. Do something about our people in need in #PuertoRico. We are American Citizens too."

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