A little rain didn’t stop Paige Makarewicz and her family from walking two miles to support a local nonprofit that was there when her family needed support most.
It also didn’t stop the Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA from holding a record-breaking event throughout its 30-year history and announcing funding for a new initiative.
Makarewicz said her family walked in honor of her mother, Kathleen, who passed away last year after an eight-month battle with lung cancer. The family utilized some of the many free services the center offers cancer patients and their families during her fight.
“In that time, she was the strength to us all,” Makarewicz said. “I think we need this here. I think our area has a lot of cancer, so we do need to come together as a community.”
The community came together for the organization on Saturday: while hundreds gathered under ponchos and umbrellas, the center’s director, Tom Ruskey, announced that more than $95,000 had been raised — a record-breaking total in the walk’s 30-year history.
“We have grown immensely the past couple years. We are seeing close to 600 clients right now with their caregivers on top of it,” Ruskey said of the level of need. “We’re here to celebrate folks going through this cancer journey and also raise funds for all the services that we offer.”
Proceeds from the event help the Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA continue providing a plethora of free services to cancer patients and their families, which range from free wigs to fitness programs, sound therapies, and more.
The walk also featured raffle baskets, vendors, a farm stand from the Food Dignity Movement, as well as the Wyoming Valley West high school cheerleading team and the Kingston/Forty-Fort fire department.
Event chair Lauren Gorney explained the importance of having something like the Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA.
Standing next to her mother, Janella, who is battling kidney cancer, Lauren spoke of how she not only acts as a caregiver but is a survivor of childhood cancer herself.
“When you’re going through cancer, it can feel extremely lonely, and having a place like this to come and have not only the services, but the community behind it to support you while you’re going through some of the toughest days of your life, makes a world of difference in your battle and recovery,” she added.
Saturday’s event also marked a special announcement for the center — the start of a new food program, thanks to $200,000 in funding donated by Mericle Real Estate.
Through the program, the Cancer Wellness Center of NEPA will work with Fit AF and the Food Dignity Movement to provide meal plans for up to 12 weeks for roughly 100 clients, as well as offer food vouchers and expand the center’s cooking classes.
The Food Dignity Movement will also host about a dozen additional farm stands at the center, where people can donate in exchange for fresh produce from local farmers.
Both Ruskey and Food Dignity Movement founder Clancy Harrison feel it’s important to help bridge the gap of food insecurity for families battling diseases such as cancer.
“We know that people diagnosed with cancer have an increased risk of food insecurity, and so we want to make sure they have access to a wide variety of locally nutritional, nutrient dense food,” Harrison added.