Letter to Editor: Support Kids' Cancer Bake Sale

To the Editor:

Cookies for Kids' Cancer was created to raise awareness of and funds for pediatric cancer research. But it all started with a kid fighting cancer and his parents’ desire to help him and others.

That child was Liam Witt. The bake sales this weekend is in loving memory of this fighting warrior who lost his battle this January and to honor our hero, Kyle James Williams, who was a friend of Liam’s. Kyle continues to fight for his life every day.

Neuroblastoma is the rare form of childhood cancer that took Liam’s life. Only 30 percent of children diagnosed survive because little money is spent on research. In fact, pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under 18.

When we all heard that Amy Farina Fornabaio’s nephew was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, we knew we needed to support her and her family through the difficult days ahead. As Gina Marks and Cindy O’Brien stated: “One day a little boy named Kyle came into our lives and quickly became part of our Petrey family. We follow his journey and hope and pray that God will give Kyle his wish to live his life like any other child.”

Jennifer Bartko, owner of Petrey Real Estate, states, “The toll pediatric cancer takes on patients and their families is profound. We have seen this struggle first hand.”

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is about all the children who have lost their lives to cancer, and to improve the survival rates for all forms of pediatric cancer.

Please join us and support the Cookies for Kids Cancer Bake Sales from March 4 to 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Petrey East, at 254 East Park Ave. in Long Beach; and Petrey Real Estate, at 860 W. Beech Street in Long Beach and 2041 Park St. in Atlantic Beach.  For more information, please contact me at 516-857-2807.

Michele Reinbach
Long Beach