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Community Corner

Supporters Gather for Hope in Motion

On Sunday, Stamford Downtown became the backdrop for the 16th annual Hope in Motion fundraiser for Stamford Hospital's Bennett Cancer Center

Yesterday, over 2,562 walkers, 727 runners and 162 riders — including 355 children — arrived downtown for ’s 16th annual . In , teams gathered in the sea of blue T-shirts shirts, signs and balloons, ready to participate in the culmination of months of planning and fundraising efforts.

The first Sunday in June is National Cancer Survivors Day and the date that the Stamford Hospital Foundation holds its signature event.

“The event gets bigger and better every year,” Chris Riendeau, senior vice president of the Stamford Hospital Foundation, told Patch.

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Planning the event is a year round process and the team will already be busy planning next year's event in the days that follow.

“It’s been a fun journey, this is the most enjoyable part — it's great to see everyone who’s supporting us gathered here. The Stamford community is amazing,” Erin O’Toole, manager of Hope in Motion at Stamford Hospital Foundation said.

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The walk started out in Shippan, but quickly outgrew the location. Last year, Hope in Motion raised $970,000 and, as of Friday, this year’s event had raised $795,500 with more coming in by the minute. In all, 4,699 people had donated to Hope in Motion as of Friday.

“When our foundation first thought about doing a walk, I thought “that’s great, but will people really come out? There are so many walks out there already,”” Liz Manfredo, the director of cancer services at Stamford Hospital Bennett Cancer Center, said. "I think that part of what draws people is that everything stays in the community."

“Every few days someone is sent to me with financial problems — to know the money is there and I can help fix things for them, it’s fabulous,” Michelle Palazzo, patient services coordinator at the Bennett Cancer Center said.

Palazzo has personally raised $190,000 over the past nine years.

While the core of Hope in Motion is raising money for a very serious cause, the spirit on the day of the event is celebratory — teams gathering and supporting one another, survivors celebrating another year cancer-free.

“I’m here because I’m alive,” Linda Chriscoe told Patch. “I’m a breast cancer survivor — five years — and I owe my life to Bennett Cancer Center. They’re the most wonderful people, from everyone thee, from the moment you arrive the parking lot attendant greets you with a big smile.”

“It’s a fabulous facility that takes very wonderful care of people in extreme need,” Karen Keating said. “Being here is one thing I can do to give a little.”

Keating has participated in every Hope in Motion for the past sixteen years.

Friday Girls are a team built around four survivors — Pam Zangrillo, Sharon Kratochvil, Maureen Meehan, and Jean Walker — and includes many of their family members and friends.

“This is our fifth year as a team, when we started out, we all had chemotherapy on Fridays,” Zangrillo explained. “We’re all still here.”

Friday Girls were the top fundraiser in their first year and continue to fundraise near the top of the pack year after year.

“We’re very competitive about our fundraising for Bennett Cancer Center!” Zangrillo said.

For many teams, including members of Betty’s Boppers — participating in Hope in Motion is a way to honor someone they have lost to cancer.

“Betty was a coworker, and she was a mentor not only to us but to our daughters,” Helaine Klein said. “We’ve been a team for eight years — Betty was with us for five of those years. If she were here today, she’d be doing Zumba with our girls."

“She is here today.” Scottie Dombrowski added.

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