Peabody Native Hosts 10th Annual Ice Cream Social for Cancer Walk

Crystal Calderone Liacos is thankful 10 years later her mother is cancer-free due to treatments she received over a decade ago at the North Shore Cancer Center, so much so that Liacos continues to help raise funds to support the center's work.

“I can’t believe it has been 10 years since I first held my Ice Cream Social fundraiser to raise money for the North Shore Cancer WALK," says Liacos.

"Back when I first started, I was in college and my mother had just finished her treatments for ovarian cancer at the North Shore Cancer Center when it was still based in Peabody. Today, she is cancer-free and we are all so happy we can do whatever we can to support the doctors and the cancer center," she says.

So this Sunday, you can stop down to the gym at between 4 and 7 p.m. and make your own ice cream sundae. Ice cream and toppings are provided by Cherry Hill Creamery of Danvers.

All proceeds from sundaes and raffle tickets will benefit the North Shore Cancer WALK, which takes place June 24 at Salem Willows Park. Over the past decade of ice cream socials, Liacos has raised more than $20,000 for the walk.

Raffle prizes include:

• Laser Quest birthday party for 10 children ($160 value)
• $25 gift certificate
• Remote control motorcycle ($50 value)
• $10 gift certificate (five winners will each receive a $10 gift card)
• bowling passes

“I held my first fundraiser in 2002. Having an ice cream social was so appealing to me because cancer has a way of making people feel very isolated – not only the people going through it, but also family members. I wanted to create an opportunity where people could be surrounded by others in a similar situation. Whether people needed to mourn or celebrate or just talk to others, I wanted to create a fundraiser that fostered that sense of togetherness,” says Liacos.

• WHAT: 10th Annual Ice Cream Social Fundraiser to Benefit North Shore Cancer WALK
• WHO: Hosted by Peabody native Crystal Liacos
• WHEN: Sunday, June 10, 4-7 p.m.
• WHERE: St. John the Baptist School Gym, 19 Chestnut St., Peabody
• WHY: Benefits North Shore Cancer WALK