SAN ANTONIO — The Flying Saucer San Antonio is raising money to help one of their own who has been the heart of the gastropub for nearly two decades.
Hundreds of people filled the Flying Saucer to show support for Derek Zuckerman, a well-known staple of the brewing community.
"We all have never known this place without him," Manager Claire Altree said. "He's trained every guy in the kitchen. He's been our kitchen manager for more than a decade and he has been our rock."
In November, however, coworkers noticed Zuckerman wasn't feeling well. Then, one day after he didn't show up for work, they asked his best friend Jason Davis to check up on him.
"I went by to visit him and he just wasn't his normal self," Davis said. "He was having a hard time communicating and we didn't know what it was."
A day later, Davis took Zuckerman to the hospital where doctors delivered heartbreaking news.
"They did a CAT scan immediately and they found multiple tumors in his brain," Altree said.
Another friend and colleague started a GoFundMe campaign with a $20,000 goal to help with medical expenses. On Saturday the Flying Saucer went a step further, hosting a fundraiser to raise what they can for Zuckerman, who they call family.
"Unfortunately, it doesn't look like he's coming back," Altree said. "It's about helping him get this treatment, spending the time with his family and daughters, and really getting the best quality of life."