A Hicksville family that lost their daughter to cancer is using laughter to help others. The Night of Laughter is the Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer’s major annual fundraiser. This year’s event was held at Jericho’s Milleridge Cottage on April 10 and attracted more than 200 attendees. The evening encompasses an extensive raffle drawing (featuring items donated by local businesses), dinner and the side-splitting performances of four professional comedians.
“They say laughter is the best medicine,” said Marissa Weippert, co-founder of the Sarah Grace Foundation.
In March 2003, Marissa and her husband Matt founded the foundation in memory of their daughter, who passed away from leukemia when she was 12 years old.
“My daughter was amazing. When she first got sick, she was upset because she wanted to be able to get her perfect attendance award when she graduated school,” Marissa said. “My daughter always thought of other people, other kids who had cancer. She was unbelievable, and I drew my courage from her.”
Despite Matt working full-time and Marissa working part-time, the two still manage to devote several hours almost every night to overseeing the Foundation and its myriad needs, which assists families of children fighting cancer in the tri-state area.
“When Sarah was sick, we saw what we had and didn’t have in terms of support…now we try to give that back to families who are going through what we did,” Marissa said. “We can’t afford to pay for everything, but we will offer funds for toys, or meals or gas mileage for parents who are staying at the hospital with their child. One of the biggest requests we get is to help with funeral expenses.”
The Sarah Grace Foundation is also the biggest local supplier of “Chemo Ducks,” a stuffed animal that allows parents and doctors to explain treatment options to children within a context that they can more easily relate—that of a cuddly plush duck that’s going through the very same thing.
Hicksville resident Sue Powell has been a volunteer with the Sarah Grace Foundation since its inception. Every April she buys her ticket and attends the Night of Laughter to show her support.
“When these kids are in the hospital, they’re patients…but they’re still kids, and the Sarah Grace Foundation makes sure that they still get to be kids,” Powell said.
Rick Morgan has been the Master of Ceremonies of the Night of Laughter since its inception. A comedian for more than 30 years, the event is something he has a personal stake in, he said.
“Out of all the shows that I do, this is the one that is always on my mind, more than any of the others,” he said. “I think about that brave little girl and her parents. They’re such gracious people, doing what they do to help other children who are stricken with this terrible disease.”
Matt Weippert spoke of the painful memories of the passing of his beloved daughter, and the good that was born out of that terrible happening as well.
“It’s a challenge, but the foundation is our way of keeping Sarah alive,” he said. “It makes everything she went through mean something. Out of that suffering, we’ve tried to make it a positive thing to help other children. We’re starting our 13th year, and we’ve helped 8,000 children. I’ll say that makes it easier…it’s never easy, but it hurts less. That’s what it’s all about.”
To find out more, visit www.thesarahgrace foundation.org.
