More than 1,000 CancerCare friends and supporters recently came together to take part in the 13th annual CancerCare Lung Cancer Walk for Hope, held at the Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course in Woodbury. The event raised more than $175,000 in support of CancerCare’s Lung Cancer Support Program, the only ongoing program on Long Island providing free counseling to patients, loved ones and caregivers affected by lung cancer.
Win Boerckel, MSW, MBA, LCSW-R, CancerCare’s Director of Social Services for the Long Island Office, welcomed the enthusiastic crowd and introduced students from Syosset’s Our Lady of Mercy Academy who sang the national anthem. Our Lady of Mercy Academy has been an important supporter and has donated proceeds from its annual 5K Tower Run in memory of beloved health teacher M.J. Lorello.
“Life does not end, it just changes form,” said Boerckel. “This annual Lung Cancer Walk for Hope is a time to pay tribute to our survivors and all who have cared for them, as well as those who are struggling with the disease and its lasting implications.”
The success of this year’s Lung Cancer Walk for Hope was a community effort. The organization would like to acknowledge Joann Centrone of Massapequa and Diana Gerhardt of East Rockaway, who are the spirit behind “Ices for Andrea,” named in honor of their beloved mother who passed away from breast cancer.
The sisters started “Ices for Andrea” nine years ago with the sale of Italian ices on a neighborhood sidewalk as the family raised funds for CancerCare, in memory of their mother, Andrea. Since then, they have raised more than $40,000 for CancerCare, making it possible for many Long Islanders to benefit from CancerCare’s free counseling and support programs for cancer patients and their families.
Also acknowledged was “Ralph’s Cancer Killers” headed by captain Ralph Gagliano of Lynbrook. The two teams rounded out the top five supporters for this year’s event. Efforts by all these teams and individuals are essential to the sustainability of the Lung Cancer Support program and CancerCare expresses its deepest appreciation to the community for their hard work and commitment to its clients.
Immediate past event chair, John N. Evans, passed the leadership baton over to Seaford resident and captain of “Team Butterflies” to 2015 Chair, Kim Pellizzi, who lost her mother Vera, to lung cancer, and organized the ninth annual “Strike Out Cancer” bowling night which has raised more than $100,000 since the first event.
CancerCare is also appreciative of the event sponsors and community partners: Ices for Andrea, Harborside Press, Ultimate Gym, Eli Lilly & Company, Teva Oncology, UBS Financial Services, Axis Promotions, Ben Jacobson Painting, Genentech, John & Alicemarie Evans, Gerry and Jack Gentile, Morgan Stanley, Winthrop University Hospital, TMK Sports & Entertainment, WBLI & WBAB, Anton Media Group, News 12 Long Island, Pennysaver, Apple & Eve, Hint Water, Panera Bread, Pure and Shoprite of Plainview, Starbucks, Suburban Eats, Town Bagel of Plainview and a special thank you to Supervisor John Venditto and the Town of Oyster Bay.
To learn more, visit www.cancercare.org or call 800-813-4673.
—Submitted by CancerCare
