Madeline Guarraia's Fundraiser Surpasses $15,000 Goal

In a time of darkness, a community is rallying around a local girl and bringing light. Madeline Guarraia of Niantic was diagnosed with Leukemia approximately five years ago.

“What ensued is the bravest, most awe-inspiring thing many of us have ever witnessed,” Sara Igo Egan wrote on Madeline’s GoFundMe fundraising page. “Looking back at pictures, over the course of her long and unbelievably difficult treatment, what you notice is not the hospital bed, tubes and various machines, but her smile.”

Recently, Madeline and her family found out that the disease has returned and with it, continued determination, resilience and community support.

Egan created the fundraiser on Tuesday, Dec. 9, and as of 7:54 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, donations total $15,550 — surpassing the initial goal of $10,000 and the second-level goal of $15,000.

“In a time of darkness, you have brought light,” Egan wrote the morning of Dec. 11. “When asked to set a fundraising goal, $10,000 was a dream. Madeline is still at Yale and uncertain of her treatment plan. Because we have almost reached our goal and the uncertainty of her treatment plan, let’s raise the goal to $15,000. On behalf of the Guarraia family, thank you for your generosity!”

Bone Marrow Registry Drives

Three marrow donor registry drives are taking place this month, in honor of Madeline.

• 3 to 6:30 pm. Monday, Dec. 15, at the Waterford Town Hall, 15 Rope Ferry Rd.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at Lillie B Haynes Elementary, 29 Society Rd., Niantic
• 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 at Oswegatchie Elementary School, 470 Boston Post Rd., in Waterford

Cristina Balboni with the Rhode Island Blood Center, a Be The Match partner, said potential donors can take the first step to saving a life by registering to the Be The Match registry. She provided the following information on the drives taking place at the schools.

• Registration requires paperwork and a cheek swab sample taken from the inside of the mouth
• The process takes approximately 15 minutes
• To join you must be aged 18-44, in good health, and willing to donate to any patient you may match in the future
• Most donations, if you later match a patient, are done through an automated blood donation

“Please help us by signing up to see if you are a match for Madeline or other patients searching for their match,” she said.

The cost to add each potential marrow donor to the Be The Match registry is approximately $100, according to Balboni. Costs are covered by health insurance and Michael’s Fund of Fall River, Mass.

“There will be no out of pocket expense for anyone wishing to the join the registry,” she said.

If You Can’t Attend the Drive

If people are unable to attend the drive in person, an online drive for Madeline has been set up at the Rhode Island Blood Center website.

When asked for a promo code, enter “swab4madeline” and a swab kit will be sent in the mail.

Related Links

• Madeline’s GoFundMe Page
• Waterford Bone Marrow Drive Set for Dec. 15
• Niantic 8-year-old needs help battling cancer for the second time
• Fundraising Continues For Madeline Guarraia
• Madeline Guarraia Is An Inspiration

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Photo Credit: GoFundMe page