Community Joins Forces To Help Friend Battling Cancer

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — The community is joining hands and hearts to help a well-loved friend battle cancer.

A GoFundMe, "Help Neil Salvaggio Win The Fight," was created by Joseph Shaw to help his longtime friend and colleague at the Press News Group.

"Bad things happen to good people. All the time," Shaw wrote. "Neil Salvaggio is my friend — but that's not unusual. Neil is everyone's friend. He's well-known, well-liked. Good poker player ("The Badger!") and reasonably good golfer. He's also the kind of guy who will do anything for a friend. Now it's our turn."

Salvaggio, Shaw said, went to the doctor in May with what seemed like symptoms of Lyme disease.

"Turns out he does have Lyme, but the tests showed low blood counts that alarmed the doctors. Long story short, after a painful bone marrow biopsy, he ended up with a diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia."

Salvaggio, he said, quickly began intensive chemotherapy sessions at NYP Weil/Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

"He's still there — the first weeklong 24/7 chemo sessions have been very successful, but he faces a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the coming weeks with hopes of finally putting this awful chapter to rest," Shaw said. "He's also bald and beautiful right now, if I may say so. I'm starting this page to give Neil's many friends, colleagues, acquaintances and well-wishers a place to send tangible love to him in a way that flowers or teddy bears cannot —currency. The simple fact is that, in America today, when you get sick, there are expenses, even when you have medical insurance. Neil's battle is going to take months at the very minimum, and it's going to mean there will be bills to pay," Shaw wrote. "Send Neil a little love and show him he's not alone in his battle with leukemia — a battle he's going to win, because he's got the bigger army."

Shaw also urged individuals to get tested as potential bone marrow donors. "It's the easiest thing in the world — a swipe of a swab in your mouth, nothing more. You might help save Neil's life — or someone else's," he wrote.

To donate, click here.