Twelve Year Old Diagnosed With Cancer Returns To School To Thank His Classmates For Their Support

Twelve year old Connor Chin, of Clark, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancerous tumor of the bone, last spring, was joined by (left to right): his mother Lisa, father Cesar and sister Elizabeth when he returned to the Carl H. Kumpf Middle School for the first time since his diagnosis. Connor is featured on a Stop & Shop fundraising coupon to benefit cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Stop & Shop and its customers will donate $1.3 million to MSK this year. Since 2001, Stop & Shop has raised almost $18 million on behalf of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Department of Pediatrics.

Twelve year old Clark, New Jersey resident Connor Chin, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancerous tumor of the bone, last spring, returned to school for the first time since his diagnosis. Connor thanked his classmates, teachers and the school administration at the Carl H. Kumpf Middle School for their support and friendship during his treatment and recovery.

Connor is serving as a Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Ambassador. He is featured on a series of coupons provided by Stop & Shop to benefit cancer research at MSK. By purchasing discount coupons at checkout, customers will receive $10 worth of coupons for just a $2 donation. Proceeds will benefit Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Department of Pediatrics. Since 2001, Stop & Shop has raised almost $70 million for charitable causes, with $17.9 million given to support pediatric cancer research at MSK. This year, the company goal is to raise another $1.3 million on behalf of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Department of Pediatrics.

On Mother’s Day 2016, Connor was playing in the backyard of his family’s Clark, NJ home when he fell and injured his knee. “I told my Mom it really hurt, and she said it was just a bad bruise, but the pain never went away,” says Connor. He was subsequently diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancerous tumor of the bone. Connor underwent a knee and partial femur replacement and is undergoing physical therapy so that he can relearn to walk, and hopes to soon be walking without a cane.

“The Carl H. Kumpf Middle School faculty and student body have been so supportive,” says his mother Lisa. “The Teachers Association raised money to benefit him, and his classmates held a fundraiser in his honor to benefit MSK. Teachers from the school home tutored him so that he could keep up with his studies.”

Sixth grade classmates Jack Vito, Jimmy Garbowski and David Rodrigues presented Connor with an oversized greeting card from the entire grade welcoming him back to school. Connor autographed copies of the fundraising coupon to thank his classmates for their ongoing support. Connor was welcomed back to school by Clark Superintendent Edward Grande, Principal Jennifer Feeley and faculty members Victoria Sasso, Joesph Rodrigues, Nicole Drasin, Sherri D'Amico, and Barbara Corby who tutored him during his absence.

“This campaign with Memorial Sloan Kettering will help ensure families get the best care possible for their children,” said Bob Yager, Senior Vice President and Division Lead of Stop & Shop New York Metro Division. “We are so appreciative of the generosity of each of our customers who continue to make this campaign a success. By working together, we are proud that Stop & Shop and our customers can make a difference.”

“The support Stop & Shop has provided us for the past sixteen years has allowed us to continue to fulfill our mission. We hope to not only cure childhood cancer, but to send our patients back to their homes, schools, families and friends in exactly the condition they were in before this devastating diagnosis,” says Paul A. Meyers, MD, Vice Chair of MSK Department of Pediatrics. “The hard work each Stop & Shop employee puts into this campaign truly pays off. We see better outcomes for kids and for their families. On behalf of the physicians and scientists who work tirelessly to conquer childhood cancers – and the children who will benefit now and in the future – I extend our deepest gratitude.”