CancerCare Lung Cancer Walk for Hope Raises More Than $100,000

More than 500 CancerCare friends and supporters came together for the 15th Annual CancerCare Lung Cancer Walk for Hope, held at the Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course in Woodbury. The event raised more than $100,000 in support of CancerCare’s Lung Cancer Support Program, which provides free counseling to patients, loved ones and caregivers affected by lung cancer.

Win Boerckel, MBA, LCSW-R, CancerCare’s Director of Social Services for the Long Island Office, welcomed the enthusiastic crowd and introduced students from Syosset’s Our Lady of Mercy Academy who sang the national anthem. Our Lady of Mercy Academy has been an important supporter and has donated proceeds from its annual 5K Tower Run in memory of beloved health teacher M.J. Lorello.

Participants then heard from Laura MacArthur, of Suffolk, NY, who came to CancerCare after her mother passed away from lung cancer. A longtime supporter of the organization, this was her seventh year at the Lung Cancer Walk for Hope. “Every year when I go, I feel humbled,” she says. “It reminds me how grateful I am that I had a place to go when I needed support.”

The event’s top fundraiser was Phyllis Sobel, a Woodbury resident, two-time lung cancer survivor, and longtime supporter of CancerCare. Ms. Sobel’s team “Jonathan’s Jules,” raised over $20,000 for CancerCare's Lung Cancer Program.

CancerCare also wishes to acknowledge Kim Pellizzi, of Seaford, NY, who captained “Team Butterflies.” Ms. Pellizzi, who lost her mother Vera to lung cancer, organized the 11th annual “Strike Out Cancer.” Joann Centrone of Massapequa and Diana Gerhardt of East Rockaway, who are the spirit behind “Ices for Andrea,” named in honor of their beloved mother who passed away from breast cancer. These innovative annual fundraisers helped both teams crack the top three spots for team fundraisers this year.

Efforts by everyone who participates in this event are essential to the sustainability of the Lung Cancer Support program, and CancerCare deeply appreciates our Long Island community for their hard work and commitment to our clients.

CancerCare is also appreciative of its event sponsors and community partners: Ices for Andrea, Harborside Press, Teva Oncology, Genentech, Morgan Stanley, NYU Winthrop University Hospital, K-Deer, Anton Media Group, Pennysaver, WBLI & WBAB, Hint Water, Holiday Inn of Plainview, Lessings, Panera Bread, Pure and Shoprite of Plainview, Starbucks, Town Bagel of Plainview and a special thank you to Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the Town of Oyster Bay.

To learn more about this year’s Lung Cancer Walk for Hope or make a donation in support of the Lung Cancer Support Program, visit www.cancercare.org/lungcancerwalk.

About CancerCare®

Founded in 1944, CancerCare is the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer. Our comprehensive services include counseling and support groups over the phone, online and in-person, educational workshops, publications and financial and co-payment assistance. All CancerCare services are provided by oncology social workers and world-leading cancer experts.

To learn more, visit www.cancercare.org or call 800-813-HOPE (4673).