Press Release
2015-12-08
13th Annual CancerCare® Long Island Lung Cancer Walk for Hope Brings Out More than 1,000 Long Islanders and Friends, Raising Funds and Awareness
Woodbury, NY, December 8, 2015 – More than 1,000 CancerCare friends and supporters 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, on Sunday, November 8. 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 Mr. 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.”
Joined on stage by Town Clerk, Jim Altadonna and Councilman Joe Pinto, Mr. Boerckel acknowledged the vital support of the Town of Oyster Bay, especially that of Supervisor John Venditto. Mr. Boerckel presented the top individual and team fundraising awards to CancerCare volunteer Phyllis Sobel of Woodbury, whose team “Will to Survive” raised over $21,000 toward sustaining the Lung Cancer Support Program. Ms. Sobel, herself a two-time lung cancer survivor, was presented with a memorial plaque honoring the memory of her son, Jonathan Sobel. It was announced that in honor of his commitment to the Lung Cancer Walk for Hope, future awards for top fundraisers will be named after him to commemorate the indelible mark he has left on the event and those who will benefit from the services he so strongly advocated.
Mr. Boerckel presented the 2015 Leadership Award to immediate past event chair, John N. Evans, for his 12 years of hard work as chairman of the event. Mr. Evans, Partner-in-Charge of accounting firm Marks Paneth’s New Jersey office, was the event’s founding chair. In his remarks, Mr. Evans reiterated the importance of the Lung Cancer Walk for Hope and passed the leadership baton over to Seaford resident and captain of “Team Butterflies” to 2015 Chair, Kim Pellizzi. Ms. Pellizzi, who lost her mother Vera to lung cancer, organized the 9th annual “Strike Out Cancer” bowling night which has raised over $100,000 since the first event.
Bethpage resident and co-owner of Hicksville’s Ultimate Gym, Mat DeSanno, led the excited crowd in a warm-up. Through events at the gym and other outreach to family, friends and colleagues, Mr. DeSanno’s team, “Team Debbie,” named in honor of his mom who passed away from lung cancer, has supported CancerCare’s mission since 2010.
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 and “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 our special community for their hard work and commitment to our clients.
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, Shoprite of Plainview, Starbucks, Suburban Eats, Town Bagel of Plainview and a special thank you to Supervisor John Venditto & the Town of Oyster Bay.
To learn more about this year’s Lung Cancer Walk for Hope or make a donation in support of the Lung Cancer Support Program, visit www.cancercare.org/lungcancerwalk.
About CancerCare®
Founded in 1944, CancerCare is the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer. CancerCare’s comprehensive services include counseling and support groups over the phone, online and in-person, educational workshops, publications and financial and co-payment assistance. All CancerCare services are provided by oncology social workers and world-leading cancer experts. Headquartered in New York, NY, CancerCare maintains three additional locations in Norwalk, CT, Ridgewood, NJ and Syosset, NY.
To learn more, visit www.cancercare.org or call 800-813-HOPE (4673).
Media Contact:
Jane Bartnett
TMK Sports & Entertainment
516.902.7985
janebartnett@yahoo.com
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