Community To Open Hearts Friday For Teen Battling Cancer

SOUTHOLD, NY — Dylan Newman, a 14-year old from Southold fighting cancer, has an army of local angels who've come together in a show of love and support.

On Friday, the Riverhead PBA is sponsoring a fundraiser for Dylan, the son of a public safety dispatcher, to help defray the Newman family's costs.

The event takes place on Oct. 19, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at Duck Walk Vineyard, located at 44535 Main Road in Southold. Tickets cost $50 per person and include light fare, beer and wine, along with music by SouthBound LI, a 50/50 raffle and a Chinese auction.

For tickets, contact Charles Mauceri, 631-484-1730, Charles Cicanowicz, 631-918-2529, John Morris, 631-478-5410, and Roman Wilinski, 631-484-0161.

The whole community has opened its hearts for Dylan — whose treatments began in May — with a series of fundraisers, including, a Kait's Angels yard sale and a"Team Dylan #5 Fundraiser" held at Claudio's.

Other events, packed with a caring community, have included a "Dash for Dylan" fundraiser in June that brought more than 400 to the Southold Junior/Senior High School gym. Supporters also teamed up to "Pack The Shack" at another fundraiser, "Food For A Cause," held in June at The North Fork Shack.

A YouCaring page, "Team Dylan, #5" has been set up for Dylan, who's "full of love and life. He loves his sports — especially baseball!" the page says. "He has an amazing family that loves him more than he could ever know and the greatest friends that will always have his back."

However, their family was hit with devastating news. "This boy has been thrown a real curve ball," the page says. "Our #5 is 'In It To Win It' but will need our support."

The goal is to raise funds to help Dylan, along with his parents, Todd and Tanya, and sister Kelsey with the financial burdens they will endure as Dylan receives treatment in New York City. To donate, click here.

Todd Newman said his whole family is grateful for outpouring of caring from a devoted community.
"We have an army behind us to beat this," he said. "This community has been so good to us."

And, Newman said, when his son emerges victorious from his battle, they plan to spend a lifetime giving back all the love their family has received. "When all this is said and done, I guarantee my son and our whole family will be giving back," he said.

His son, Newman said, is a born athlete, one of the talented eighth grade varsity baseball players in Southold. "We can't wait to get him back on that field," he said.

Patch photo courtesy Newman family.