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PADDance Raises Funds for CURE
Palliative Care Program
The annual Ballroom Dance and Benefit, run by PADDance Productions, is
a fundraiser for the CURE Childhood Cancer Association, with the goal of
creating a palliative care program, designed to help families facing end-stage
diagnoses.
About CURE
CURE Childhood Cancer Association was started 35 years ago by a group
of Rochester-area parents who lost their children to cancer and who faced their
struggles alone during the time their children were in treatment. But by
banding together, they formed a community of help, support, and hope—for
themselves and for others. CURE’s mission today continues as they provide families
with emotional, financial, and educational support from the time of diagnosis, during
treatment, and after. CURE is an independent local organization and primarily serves
families of children who are treated at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong.
Each year, CURE assists more than 1500 families with both financial and emotional
support.
CURE hosts support meetings for on-treatment families and for bereaved
families. Annual events such as Cancer Survivors Day, the Holiday Party, Morton
Fun Day, and the Remembrance Service give families an opportunity to connect
for mutual support and friendship. Additionally, a parent advocate works
full-time at the hospital and helps families navigate the difficult journey of
childhood cancer.
PADDANCE Brings Palliative Care
to All Families
In 2009, Pete DiCecco organized PADDance, a small group of volunteers
who produce an annual dance benefit to raise funds for CURE. The benefit, now
in its fourth year, was created in honor of Pete’s son, Phillip, who passed
away from cancer in 2006 at the age of 24.
At the time of Phillip’s illness, not every child and family qualified
for palliative care, which is designed for the end-stage patient who continues
to suffer from the pain and discomfort of cancer. A specialized service,
palliative care is supervised by doctors and a team of health professionals who seek to make a child’s
final weeks or days as comfortable and pain-free as possible—a blessing to both
a child and their family.
Even in 2012, however, palliative care is not available to every Rochester-area
family that needs it.
Funds raised at the annual dance support our goal of bringing palliative
care for all CURE children and families facing end-stage cancer.
Learn more about CURE at http://www.curekidscancer.com/.
View a .pdf copy of our promotional flyer here: http://www.paddance.com/TBK%20EVENT%202012%20SCREEN.pdf
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