Please Help Me Support Cancer Support Community Central NJ and Support4Families! 


Dawn with her children, Courtney and Tyler. John and his daughter Grace.

This will be my twelfth year running for a cancer support organization and the program my friend Dawn Peragallo helped start in 2006.

As many of you know, Dawn lost her battle to cancer in April 2007. Dawn was a wonderful person and an inspiration to those who had the good fortune to know her. One of the many things Dawn accomplished in her all-too-brief life was to become involved with Cancer Support Community Central NJ (CSCCNJ), a non-profit organization that offers programs for cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones.

Unfortunately these days, we have all been touched with cancer in our lives. It may be ourselves, a spouse, family member, friend or coworker. It can be overwhelming for an individual and their family to hear that initial diagnosis. They may receive great medical care from the excellent oncology nurses and physicians, but their emotional needs often go unmet. I think we can all agree that no one should fight cancer alone. As a mother of two, Dawn recognized the need for a support program for children whose parents are suffering with cancer. Dawn worked with the CSCCNJ director, Eunice Jadlocki, to start the Kids Connect/Parents Connect program in 2006. Each year the program has continued to grow. In addition, a Kids Connect Bereavement Group has started. The two groups meet simultaneously -- one for the children who have lost a parent to cancer and the other for the surviving parent.

Dawn lives on through the Kids Connect/Parents Connect programs as they continue to help numerous children and their parents. Please help me support this wonderful program.

Thank you for all your support! I will keep everyone updated on our progress.

Sincerely,

John Weidner