CNN Hero of the Year.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "CNN HERO OF THE YEAR": Ladies and gentlemen, the 2018 CNN Hero of the Year is --</s>COOPER AND KELLY RIPA: Dr. Ricardo Pun-Chong.</s>CAMEROTA: It was a big moment last night for Dr. Ricardo Pun-Chong, who was named CNN's Hero of the Year. Dr. Pun-Chong provides free housing, meals and support for sick children and their families while they undergo treatment in Peru.</s>DR. RICARDO PUN-CHONG, 2018 CNN HERO OF THE YEAR: Thank you for my volunteers that help this 10 years at our shelter. Thank you for all the people that knock the door and give us rice or beans or some money.</s>CAMEROTA: Joining us now is Dr. Ricardo Pun-Chong. Doctor, great to see you this morning. Congratulations.</s>DR. RICARDO PUN-CHONG, CNN HERO OF THE YEAR: Thank you so much.</s>CAMEROTA: What was that moment like last night? What did this mean for you?</s>PUN-CHONG: Well, I was so excited. I don't have words to explain what I feel really. First, I think I'm going to fall down. And --</s>CAMEROTA: Fall over?</s>PUN-CHONG: Yes. But then I saw the people, and saw my friend there and said, yes, you did it. You did it. So it was great. It was great.</s>BERMAN: Tell us about this shelter. Because the work you're doing is such a great need in Peru.</s>PUN-CHONG: Yes. Well, you know, the government gives the patients the treatment free. The cancer, the leukemia, for example, that is the first cancer in kids, the first step of treatment, it's about six months. So they might be there in Lima almost six months without moving.</s>CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh.</s>PUN-CHONG: So they slept on the floors or near the church or near the parks. So we decided to rent a house to help them. And that's it.</s>CAMEROTA: I mean and some of them come from, obviously, very rural areas, very poor areas.</s>PUN-CHONG: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: They make the journey to Lima to get treatment. But then -- and it's wonderful, of course, that the government provides the treatment, but then what about the food and the shelter?</s>PUN-CHONG: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: And that's when you guys come in. And I know that you have also said that it can't just be a place that provides food and shelter. It also has to provide healing and the cure. So what do you do in your shelter that is special for the families?</s>PUN-CHONG: Well, really we play, we have fun. We don't have a TV because we want the children to be creative, yes, to play, to jump, to finally laugh. And that's it.</s>CAMEROTA: And what did you think when you came out and you saw your car really painted?</s>PUN-CHONG: That was wonderful. It was wonderful. You know, there are kids in my shelter. That's wonderful. I love it.</s>BERMAN: One of thing that was so inspiring to me last night is one of the first things you talked about wasn't that you won but what you're going to do now that you have become the CNN Hero of the Year with the money that you're going to</s>PUN-CHONG: Yes, you know, two years ago,</s>CAMEROTA: And how did you get like this? How did you become selfless? Why aren't you just wanting to make as much money and become as successful as you, in your own life? Why did you want to open your arms like this?</s>PUN-CHONG: I asked God 11 years ago, I was -- well, I used to go every day to church, always. And 11 years ago I asked God to explain to me what I have to do because I didn't know my mission here in this world. So I asked, you want me to be a priest, a missionary or what? What do you want to do? And, well, I have it.</s>CAMEROTA: You got the answer.</s>PUN-CHONG: I have.</s>CAMEROTA: Wow!</s>PUN-CHONG: So, I'm doing what I feel, and I think it's OK.</s>BERMAN: Dr. Ricardo Pun-Chong, I have to say, it was so inspiring to see you up there surrounded by so many other people doing amazing things. And the admiration you all have for each other, it was inspiring.</s>PUN-CHONG: Thank you.</s>CAMEROTA: Thank you so much for being here, doctor. Great to talk to you and hear about your mission.</s>PUN-CHONG: Thank you. And continue your dreams. Please dream, always dream. You -- believe in you. And you know you can do it.</s>CAMEROTA: That's a wonderful message.</s>BERMAN: You're proof of it.</s>PUN-CHONG: And I have a present for you.</s>CAMEROTA: Oh, good, let's see that. You're not supposed to bring us presents.</s>PUN-CHONG: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: What is it?</s>PUN-CHONG: It's a scarf.</s>CAMEROTA: Thank you.</s>BERMAN: Thank you very much.</s>CAMEROTA: Is the name of the shelter. Thank you.</s>CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh.</s>BERMAN: Thank you so much.</s>CAMEROTA: Thank you so much. Thank you for all that you do.</s>BERMAN: And congratulations for everything.</s>PUN-CHONG: Thank you so much.</s>BERMAN: So one of our other favorite moments from last night's events, a pair of canine heroes posed for their close-up. Wow. "The Good Stuff" is next.</s>CAMEROTA: It was love. We'll explain.</s>BERMAN: Yes.