'Christmas Without Cancer' Gets Boost to Help More Families

Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton and trustee Mary Keane present a check to Christmas Without Cancer founder Gerri Neylon to honor the non-profit’s efforts this past Christmas in bringing relief and support to local Southland families facing cancer challenges.

Led by the efforts of Keane, trustees Mark Marzullo and Jim McQuillan, Christmas Without Cancer partnered this holiday season with area retailers Mother Butter’s, Park Schwinn, Porter Cullen’s Irish Pub and the EP United Homeowners Association to raise funds and awareness in the community. By the week before Christmas, the Evergreen Park all-volunteer group address medical need and distributed more than $22,000 in checks, gift cards and Christmas presents where need was identified.

Jill and Mike McGrath, co-owners of Porter Cullen’s were also on hand to provide a check. The newfound donations will help Christmas Without Cancer sustain its efforts over the coming months, though Christmas will always be the time period of greatest concentration.