Community Rallies To Help Friend Battling Cancer

RIVERHEAD, NY — The community is coming together to help a friend in need.

A GoFundMe, "Lori Marin's Fight Against Cancer" has raised $4,710 of its $10,000 goal so far.

"Most of you know me, but if you don't, I will give you some background info. I am a 48 year old mother of three . .. all attend the Riverhead School District. I am proud to say I co-founded Riverhead Septa — Special Ed PTA— for the district and was president for many years. I hope I helped many families during that time. My passion is working with children and have spent most of my life doing so. I currently work as a teacher at a local daycare, but had to stop due to unexpected medical issues," Marin wrote.

She added that when she was hospitalized for 13 days in February for pneumonia, doctors noticed a large mass on the right lung that was pressing into her spinal cord.

"After having multiple biopsies and a pet scan the doctors feel the tumor is cancer," she wrote on the page.

A pet scan showed that the tumor is pressing into the spine, and that there was a possibility the cancer may have spread.

She is undergoing treatment to aggressively treat and shrink the tumor until it is gone, she said.

"I am a person who prefers to give rather than receive; however, I find myself in a position where I need help," Marin wrote. "Since I cannot work at the job I loved, I have no income coming in at all. Every doctor appointment, procedure, scan is costly. Just because I got sick doesn't mean the bills and every day life stopped. There are going to be costly treatments, co-pays, and hospital stays involved with this illness that I need help with. I want to thank everyone in advance for anything you might be able to give or for sharing my story."

To donate, click here.