Orange County Government Team Participates in 'Lap4Life'

From the Office of the County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus:

Danielle Diana-Smith is organizing the Orange County team to compete in the Lap4Life Run/Walk in Newburgh.

Inspired by her father’s own personal experience, Orange County Assistant Director of the Office for the Aging Danielle Diana-Smith is putting together a County government team to participate in next month’s eighth annual Lap4Life Run/Walk in the Town of Newburgh.

The Lap4Life Foundation raises awareness about Desmoid tumors and organ donation. Diana-Smith’s father, former Orange County Executive Ed Diana, received a lifesaving liver transplant in November of 2013. Ed Diana’s surgery came five years after he learned that he was suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Ed Diana, 67, is now healthy and splits his time living between Orange County and the state of Florida.

“My family and I will always be grateful that my father was able to undergo a successful liver transplant,” Danielle Diana-Smith said. “It was a scary experience, but fortunately his life was saved. Our participation in the Lap4Life Run/Walk serves as another opportunity to raise awareness about organ donation. My dad can’t wait to get out there with Team Orange County and participate.”

This year’s four-mile Lap4Life Run/Walk will be held at 9:15 a.m. on June 18 at Chadwick Lake Park. The run will begin at 9:15 a.m. and the walk will immediately follow. A kids “fun run” will begin after the awards ceremony.

Lap4Life was started out of a sister’s love for her brother. Founder Maddalena Casabianca-Reade of Newburgh started the foundation as a way to support her brother, Dr. Angelo Casabianca, who was battling a rare Desmoid tumor in 2000 at the age of 30. Casabianca proudly walked in the first Lap4Life event in June of 2009 and died six months later. The Lap4Life event continues in his memory on the third Saturday of each June at Chadwick Lake Park.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation and LiveOnNY, formerly known as the New York Organ Donor Network.

According to LiveOnNY, New York ranks 50th in the nation in percent of residents who are registered organ donors. Twenty-five percent of New York residents are registered organ donors as compared to 50 percent of residents across the U.S.

One organ donor can save up to eight lives and one tissue donor can improve the lives of 50 people.

“It doesn’t surprise me that Danielle is organizing a Lap4Life team to raise awareness about organ donation and support her father,” Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus. “Danielle has distinguished herself during her time in Orange County government by way of her hard work and determination. We all know how much she cares about her dad and we are glad that he is in good health.”

Danielle Diana-Smith is organizing a Lap4Life Dress Down Day for Orange County employees on Friday, June 17. To participate in the Dress Down Day or join Team Orange at the Lap4Life Run/Walk, contact her at ddiana-smith@orangecountygov.com.

Photo: (Front row, left to right) Ava Smith, Lindsay Shepherd, Mary Diana, Ed Diana, Danielle Diana-Smith; (Back row, left to right) Marc Anthony Smith, Marty Smith.