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Relay Reflections…

May 26, 2017 by Inside Press

… and Hope Following the 10th Annual Relay for Life of Chappaqua

Article and Photo by Gillian Hand

On May 20th, the field in front of Bell Middle School was transformed. Tents and tables sprung up across the property as Greeley students prepared to spend the night at one of the most anticipated fundraising events of the year: the 10th Annual Relay for Life of Chappaqua. All night long, these participants would walk in support of cancer patients, raising money for research and fostering hope for a world without cancer.

The dedication to finding a cure runs strong in this American Cancer Society event, bringing communities together across the globe and right here in Chappaqua. Although no words can do it justice, this Relay for Life slogan is a true testament to the nature and goals of this inspiring event: “Celebrate. Remember. Fight back.”

2017 marked the tenth year of Chappaqua’s participation in Relay for Life. For one decade, students at Horace Greeley High School have come together to raise money for cancer research and have walked the track throughout the night in support of all those who have been touched by cancer. This year, the reconstruction of the Greeley track and field facilities prompted the event’s move to downtown Chappaqua.

While this would mark the first year that the fundraiser would be held anywhere but the Greeley property, the new location of Bell Middle School enhanced community involvement and inspired increased participation of local merchants and residents. Although the Bell facilities do not include a track, committee members from the Greeley club worked throughout the day to prepare the grounds for the fundraiser and mimic the setup of past years. While it was certainly a change from the previous events held at Greeley, the Chappaqua administration partnered with the Relay for Life of Chappaqua executive board to help ease the transition and make the event the great success it has been in the past.

I served on the Relay planning committee and executive board throughout my four years at Greeley. Behind the scenes, this dedicated Greeley club prepares for the event throughout the year, organizes the setup and cleanup of the event grounds, and works tirelessly to ensure that the night runs smoothly. It has been an honor to not only take part in such an inspiring and worthy event, but to also lend a personal hand in the successful planning and execution of the fundraiser. Each year, I have been privileged to watch the event grow and develop at every stage, present for everything from the early months of planning to the sun rising over the field after a night of walking.

Relay for Life is extraordinary. By rallying behind friends or family members touched by the disease or simply staying the night despite heavy rain or cold temperatures, these students prove themselves year after year as true supporters of the cause. It is incredible to see students, families, Greeley faculty members, and other Chappaqua residents coming together in hope and support; Relay for Life of Chappaqua has shown me how successful we can be when we unite behind a common goal. Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, and with an event like Relay, the entire community can work together to foster change and progress in cancer research. While I am looking forward to continuing my participation in college, I am excited to watch Relay for Life of Chappaqua continue to grow and succeed.

At the time of the writing of this article, the 2017 Relay for Life of Chappaqua had raised over $170,000 for the American Cancer Society, and this number will only go up. Relay for Life is something that both Greeley and Chappaqua as a whole can be proud of.

To donate to Relay for Life of Chappaqua, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY17EA?pg=entry&fr_id=79440.

Inside Press Intern Gillian Hand is a senior at Greeley.

Team Chappy Gals Join Cycle for Survival Event for a Cure

April 24, 2017 by Dori Busell

Chappaqua Moms Cycle for a World Without Cancer

While most Chappaqua residents were trying to adjust to losing an hour of sleep during daylight savings on March 12, 28 moms from Chappaqua gathered at the train station to board a train to Grand Central. The Chappy Gals were en route to participate in their fourth Cycle for Survival event, after months of planning and fundraising to do their part to help raise funds for Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital.

Team Chappy Gals was started four years ago by Chari Hirshson. She was inspired to start a team in support of cancer research when her then four-year-old daughter wished for a grandfather when asked what she most wanted during a recital. Chari lost her father to esophageal cancer, a type of rare cancer, when she was 18 and her husband lost both of his parents to cancer before their wedding (gall bladder and ovarian cancer).

“I was looking for a way to feel like I was actually doing something to help the battle against cancer and bring some hope to the cause,” said Hirshson. “Cycle for Survival has been such an inspiration to myself and family, especially as the cancer that has struck our family so significantly have been rare cancers. My hope is that in our lifetime, there will be a cure and I believe that the research being conducted at MSK will help us get there.”

Over the last four years, the team and its efforts have greatly expanded. What started as a team of 10 in 2014 has grown to the 28 women, all of who were riding in honor or memory of someone battling with cancer. This year, Chappy Gals raised more than $95,000 (at press time) bringing the total fundraising efforts of the team since inception to more than $232,000 (and growing).

Each team member was tasked with raising funds to support their ride–a four hour spin class on a cycling bike, broken up into one hour rides, held at Equinox gyms around the country. Team members raised money on an individual basis as well as reached out to the Chappaqua community for support. In late January, Chappy Gals co-sponsored a fundraising event at Lucy’s in Pleasantville. The highlight was a silent auction and raffle, with prizes donated by area stores, restaurants and services. More than 150 people were in attendance raising more than $14,000 was raised that evening.

“It was amazing to have the support of the community. We sincerely thank every Chappaqua and Mount Kisco store and business for donating their time, services and goods to help our cause,” added Hirshson.

Cycle for Survival, now in its 11th year, is dedicated to raising money to support research to fight rare cancers. One hundred percent of the proceeds go directly to fund research at Memorial Sloan Kettering, the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center, with funds allocated within six months of the event. Rare cancers are not as rare as they seem. Half of all cancer patients have what is considered a rare cancer, which includes brain, pancreatic, ovarian, thyroid, stomach, leukemia, lymphoma, pediatric cancers and many others.

The Cycle for Survival event is held throughout the country in Equinox gyms across 16 cities. So far in 2017, more than $33 million has been raised, bringing the total of funds raised since inception to more than $139 million for rare cancer research, which has directly contributed to more than 100 clinical trials and research studies.

“Being in the room, hearing the collective hum of hundreds of spin bikes, and listening to both heartbreaking and hopeful stories is such an impactful and inspirational experience,” said Hirshson.

“We exceeded our goal in 2017 and hope to raise the bar even further in 2018 with the support of the amazing women on this team and the greater community.”

COMEDY KIDS: Telling jokes to fight cancer

November 1, 2016 by The Inside Press

8-year-old boys trying to prove laughter truly is the best medicine

What do you get when you cross two Third Graders, some side splitting jokes, and a fundraiser? One step closer to curing pediatric brain cancer!

Eight-year-old friends and classmates, Max Chwatko and Alex Travin, have created Comedy Kids to raise much needed funds for pediatric brain cancer research. When Max’s little sister, Scarlett, was diagnosed with a brain tumor, the twosome were compelled to take action. They began telling jokes to fellow students in exchange for a donation to charity. When classmates began donating bags of allowance money, the duo decided to take the show on the road.

“When my sister got sick with cancer it felt like my responsibility to help raise money for cancer research,” said Max. “Being funny is a big part of our life and it helps us not feel so sad about the cancer, and I like how jokes come to life when I tell them.”

The pair’s first gig will be at the Chappaqua Farmer’s Market on November 5, from 9:30-noon. Every penny raised will go to A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure (AKBTC), which has roots in their Chappaqua community, and which also funds essential research for kids like Scarlett.

“Jokes are really funny and make people happy,” said Alex. “And by telling them in school for a donation it was like all the kids in class were helping other kids.”

For those who cannot make it to the farmers market event donations can be made online. For any gift of $20 or more Max and Alex will send a personalized, knee-slapping video joke to donors.
“It’s so inspiring when kids take it upon themselves to support a cause near and dear to their hearts,” remarked Kim Gilman Director of Development/Family Outreach of AKBTC. “Cancerous brain tumors are the number-one cancer related death in children, yet pediatric brain cancer research is drastically underfunded and no significant advances in treatment have been made in the past 25 years. Private funding for promising research is what gives us all hope for a cure for children battling this horrible disease.”

For information please contact comedykidsny@gmail.com

To support Comedy Kids and make an online donation please visit: akidsbraintumorcure.donordrive.com

Learn more about Comedy Kids and follow them on social media

Comedy Kids Facebook page

Farmers Market event page, market located at the Chappaqua, NY, train station

Instagram

Twitter

ABOUT COMEDY KIDS

Max Chwatko credits his sense of humor to his grandfather who is “probably the funniest person on earth.” He is also inspired by Will Ferrell, The Three Stooges, Austin Powers and Billy Eichner. Original joke by Max: Why are noses in good shape? They run!

Alex Travin’s comedic influences include Uncle Joey Gladstone of Full House fame, Mork from Ork, The State and Gilligan, the bumbling first mate of the SS Minnow. His favorite joke of the moment: How do you drown a hipster? In the mainstream!

ABOUT A KIDS’ BRAIN TUMOR CURE FOUNDATION

Cancerous brain tumors are the number one cancer related death in children. Current treatments are toxic, cause permanent cognitive and physical impairments, and severely diminish quality of life. Pediatric brain cancer research is severely under-funded, and as a result, there have been no new treatment breakthroughs in 25 years. The mission of A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure (AKBTC/PLGA Foundation) is to raise funds and awareness for scientific research leading to new, promising treatments and a cure for children’s brain cancer. For more information, visit www.akidsbraintumorcure.org; contact info@akidsbraintumorcure.org; or connect on social media at www.facebook.com/PLGAFoundationAKBTC/, or #AKBTC or @PLGA

Spinning to Save Lives

October 21, 2016 by Deborah Raider Notis

On September 15, spin instructor Lisa Gagliardi led a spin class at Equinox to raise money for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. Sponsored by the William Raveis Charitable Fund, approximately 30 people participated in “Spin for a Cure” to raise research money and greater awareness of cancer research.

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation was started in 1946 by the famous radio personality Walter Winchell following the sportswriter Runyon’s death from throat cancer. Winchell led the foundation in honor of his friend until 1972. He was supported by fellow celebrities, including Milton Berle, Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, and Bob Hope. Since its inception, the Damon Runyon Foundation has been responsible for proving the correlation between cigarette smoking and cancer, developing a cure for a patient with Stage IV melanoma via immunotherapy, and founding innovative biotech companies like Juno Therapeutics and Sunesis Pharmaceuticals.

Last year, Bill Raveis, owner of the William Raveis Real Estate company, became involved with the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation after attending a breakfast presentation in Manhattan for the foundation. He was greatly impressed by the foundation’s enthusiasm towards and devotion to finding cures for cancer. The Runyon Foundation gives young scientists significant funding and opportunities to pursue dedicated cancer research indefinitely.

“I believe that all of us, in some form or another, have been affected by cancer, either personally or through family and friends,” notes Lisa Theiss, the Vice President of Business Development at William Raveis’s Armonk office. Bill Raveis is one of those people. “Bill’s wife, Candy, was diagnosed with AML Leukemia 18 months ago, which makes this cause even more personal for him,” states Theiss, who spear-headed this event with her co-worker Lauren Goldenberg and the Armonk office administrator, Robin Lechner. Bill and Candy are witnessing, first-hand, the miraculous results of new research and targeted drug therapies.

Every year, members of the William Raveis family participate in a Ride and Walk event that takes place in Norwalk, Connecticut to support the fight against cancer. This year, William Raveis’s 130 offices throughout the country were charged with finding effective ways to fundraise to support the Damon Runyon Foundation. The Armonk office, in an effort to engage family, friends, and the community, decided to host “Spin for a Cure.” Theiss hopes this is the first of many “Spins” hosted by the Armonk office.

Raveis realtors Patricia Del Vecchio and Sandra Scarano contacted family, friends, and clients to participate in the event. “Everyone was very eager and happy to join us for this great cause,” notes Scarano, who is also a personal trainer. Del Vecchio concurred, “It is extremely important to us to do something to help people, and so many people’s lives are touched by cancer.”

The class was led by Equinox spin instructor Lisa Gagliardi. “Lisa has a great energy and played the perfect music,” says Scarano. This was Del Vecchio’s first time participating in a spin class, and she found Gagliardi extremely motivating. “I am definitely going to try another one of her classes.”

“A cure for cancer is very personal and a very big deal for everyone,” says Theiss, who believes that this is a critically important cause in which most people are heavily invested. Between innovative research and dedication to fundraising, the Damon Runyon Foundation is focused on finding a cure for this disease, which takes too many lives. And William Raveis’s Armonk office is doing its part to help.

Deborah Raider Notis is a writer and co-owner of gamechangernow.com, a free referral service connecting Westchester families to highly qualified instructors. Deborah’s writing can be found in the Inside publications as well as in suburbanmisfitmom.com.

“Incredible Progress” Two Words about Pediatric Cancer We Love to Hear

February 2, 2014 by The Inside Press

By Jamie Lober

Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is a special place that has been treating kids in the area for over 30 years. “If you look back when our division first started, the outcomes for kids with pediatric cancers in general were not as optimistic as they are today,” said Jessica Hochberg, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics in the hospital’s pediatric hematology/oncology and stem cell transplant division.

Especially in the last 20 years, there has been incredible progress in the doctors’ ability to treat the kids. “With newer agents and approaches, we are turning the table to curing the majority of pediatric cancers in a way that is not devastating to the rest of their health and they are growing up to be healthy, happy, productive adults with families and careers,” said Hochberg. Kids tolerate therapies well with few exceptions and get back to school and other activities in time, she added.

“The best example is pediatric leukemia because back in the 1950s and 60s that disease was uniformly fatal and there was not much we could do; now, with newer agents and combinations of medicines today, we are curing over 90 percent and we can do it without radiation or high dose chemotherapy,” said Hochberg.

Little Heroes

The doctors describe these kids as heroes and are glad to offer them a team of assistants in the fight including nurses, social workers and clinical coordinators. Kids come back doing well after they are done with treatments and are sometimes proclaimed as cured. It is rewarding for the doctors to watch them grow healthy and transition into adults. Every child tackles a different quest.

“The most common cancers in pediatrics are the leukemias, in particular acute lymphoblastic leukemia, closely followed by various brain tumors for which there is also a lot of progress made in surgical techniques, radiation techniques and chemotherapy combinations,” said Hochberg.

The statistics may alarm you. “Childhood cancer occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethic group, socioeconomic class or geographic region,” said Gillian Kocher, public relations director for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer. Families rely on the politicians to keep research funded and on the scientists to continue the good work they are doing. “Worldwide, an estimated 263,000 new cases of cancer affect children under the age of 20 each year,” said Kocher.

It’s a small number of kids who get cancer compared to adults but pediatric oncology centers have been able to collaborate nationally and internationally to find clinical trials and share information, expertise and treatment strategies. “This way we can identify best combinations of treatments and the treatment becomes uniform throughout the country at the different centers,” said Hochberg. Some kids’ tumors are more resistant than others but there has been a big development of supporting research that looks at the specific biology of tumors and determines what made the tumor cell become a cancer cell. It is used to identify new targets and drugs to use.

There is a lot being investigated such as biological differences that can vary even among the same disease patient to patient. With two patients with the same disease and biology, one may do well and another will not. “There is still a great deal we have to learn about why that is but I always tell families that there was nothing they did to cause it and there is nothing they can do to prevent it,” said Hochberg.

The most dramatic trend is the number of cancer survivors doctors are seeing as they get better treatments. “An interesting direction the field is going in is how to deal with the later effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatment in childhood as an adult,” said Hochberg. New treatment options tend to have less toxicity on the healthy tissues in the body. “Exciting developments that we are actively researching and participating in here are looking at cellular and antibody therapies and manipulating the immune system to better fight off the cancer,” she added.

The community is supportive of patients and has done blood drives and fundraising to help with medical costs. They are also interested in the new findings. “There are a lot of cellular treatments where we can take immune cells from the patient or sometimes from a donor and manipulate those to become cancer-fighting cells and give those back to the patient after we have manipulated them in various ways,” said Hochberg. This has been well-tolerated.

The “Take Home” Message

Doctors want the take home message to be that although they realize childhood cancer is scary, they do plan to cure kids. “We want to be as open as possible while at the same time always giving them hope and reassurance that we will get them through this,” said Hochberg.

Often the fear of what the treatment will be is usually worse than the treatment itself. When patients have a great response to therapies, doctors see relief and fear subsides.

Doctors highlight that pediatric oncology is such a different field today than it used to be. “The biggest misconception is that obviously this is a devastating disease that you would never want your child to go through but I think people need to know that from the time they were kids compared to now it is so different and really is a field full of hope and good much more than the sadness that comes along with it,” said Hochberg. Families are encouraged to get involved and spread the word about research efforts.

Jamie Lober, President of Talk Health with Jamie, is a nationally known speaker and writer with a passion for providing information on health topics A-Z. She can be reached at talkhealthwithjamie@gmail.com.