Children's Non-Profit Honors Katonah Resident

Friends of Karen, which supports critically-ill children and their families, held its annual fall benefit, “An Evening at Tribeca Rooftop” in NYC on September 22 during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It was an unbelievable night with breathtaking sunset views of the Manhattan skyline, exciting auction items and the presentation of the first ever Hero Award to a Friends of Karen teen. The Sheila W. Petersen Award, named in honor of Friends of Karen’s founder, was also presented to current Board President and Katonah resident, Pamela Hervey, in recognition of her exceptional leadership and service to the organization.

Randi Kaye of CNN was the emcee and the evening’s honorees were truly inspiring. In fact, Hero Award recipient, 18 year old Lionel Li, who became a Friends of Karen child when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Burkitt Lymphoma at the age of 15, brought the audience to tears. His remarks were eloquent beyond his years and touched the hearts of everyone in the room.

When Lionel was diagnosed with lymphoma, he began a year long journey including chemotherapy and transplant, but that was only the physical toll. There was also the emotional and financial burden his illness took on his entire family. The social worker at Cohen Children’s Medical Center where he was being treated, told his family about Friends of Karen and the ways that they could help. As Lionel said in his remarks, “Many people don’t realize that cancer isn’t just an individual problem. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, it isn’t just the child who is affected. It’s also their parents, their siblings, their friends and family.”

After a full course of treatment, Lionel was declared cancer-free and returned to school and was ready to continue his life. But, as fate would have it, he relapsed a few months later and had to go through his treatment all over again but this time also including a taxing stem-cell transplant. At this point, Lionel’s whole attitude changed and when he was once again declared cancer-free, he believed he was given an opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives. To read Lionel’s full story, visit http://www.friendsofkaren.org/lionels-story.

The event raised over $500,000 to benefit the hundreds of children like Lionel in the NY Tri-State area who are battling a life-threatening illness and whose families turn to Friends of Karen every day. Friends of Karen provides one-on-one support for the whole family. Their team of experienced social workers ensures that each family receives an individualized program of assistance to relieve their daily needs and concerns so they can remain stable and functioning. No family should have to go through their child’s illness alone. Friends of Karen is a lifeline of support.

For more information, visit www.friendsofkaren.org or call (914) 277-4547.