Windham News : fundraiser

Stand raises $1,250 for childhood cancer

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:47:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Volunteers at the Shaw’s Supermarket of Windham have the sweet taste of success in their mouths after smashing their goal of raising $200 for childhood cancer research by June 14.

After bringing in more than $1,250 in donations over two days of running an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation fundraiser outside of the 43 Indian Rock Road store, volunteer and organizer Deb Mercer said the success of the event had left her with butterflies in her stomach.

“My stomach is flip-flopping, I’m so excited,” said Mercer, who works as a grocery clerk at the supermarket on most days. “Who would have thought (the response would be this good)?”

Mercer took a lead role in organizing the weekend-long event after her district manager challenged the employees in area Shaws’ locations to raise as much money as possible for the childhood cancer research foundation. Associates at her supermarket volunteered their time, energy and efforts into making sure the fundraiser went off successfully, she said. While some of Mercer’s co-workers joined her in handing out lemonade to passing customers, others gave in whatever way they could, from donating goods for a raffle to putting together the lemonade stand from scratch.

Having spent a few hours the week leading up to the event with co-worker Gaylon Spinney building the lemonade stand, Rolando Mendez, grocery manager for the supermarket, said he wanted to make the stand look rustic and as much as possible like the original, operated by Alexandra “Alex” Scott in 2000 for the sole purpose of raising money for cancer research.

The then 4-year-old had been suffering from neuroblastoma since her first birthday, and before she passed away in 2004, Scott and volunteers across the country had raised more than $1 million for childhood cancer research.

Mercer said telling the story of Scott’s efforts to find a cure for cancer to customers had been critical in making the event a success.

“We’ve been greeting people and we’re informing them of the original lemonade stand,” Mercer said. “Their hearts melt (when they learn more) and in goes the whole $20 bill.”

A spokesman for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Gillian Kocher said more than anything else, word of mouth about events like the Shaw’s fundraiser helped the organization both by raising money and by encouraging other individuals to volunteer their time and efforts.

As for Mercer, though this may have been her first organized charity fundraiser, she is already looking forward to bringing out the lemonade stand again next year.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “I’m not one for words, but yeah, this is totally cool.”

Turkey Trot is Windham tradition

Salem Editor — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:30:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

For Cayce Marks, participating in the Windham Turkey Trot is more than a fun way to burn off calories before enjoying her Thanksgiving meal. It’s a special opportunity to reunite with friends from Salem High School, which she left more than three years ago.

“It’s really cool because I see a lot of the people I graduated with,” said Marks, a 2005 graduate. “It’s nice to reconnect, even if it’s for a couple of hours.”

And she plans to attend this year’s trot, too, which will be held Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27. The event, which takes place at the 70 Blossom Road home of Louise and Claude Peltz, kicks off at 9 a.m.

The annual event draws participants of all ages and types – runners, roller bladers, walkers, stroller pushers and others – for its 3- and 5-mile courses. Donations benefit the Shepherd’s Pantry, which provides food to needy families.

Marks, 22, a senior at Springfield College in western Massachusetts, has participated for several years and hasn’t missed a trot since her high school graduation. She hasn’t been home much since her sophomore year so getting the chance to see friends from high school has been special.

“It’s nice to catch up on people’s lives, to see familiar faces I haven’t seen in a while,” said Marks.

The Turkey Trot was launched in 1995 as a fun way families could burn off a few calories before beginning their Thanksgiving feasting.

The first trot drew about 50 people, and attendance has grown over the years. Last year, 606 people turned out.

The Turkey Trot, which has collected more than $30,000 since its inception, is an unofficial race, but there are mile markers along the course. A kitchen clock on a step leader serves as the timer.

The first 400 participants to arrive this year will each receive a free T-shirt, thanks to the generosity of Rockingham Orthopaedic Associates.

Although the event typically draws a few competitive runners, only about a third of the participants choose to run. The event is held regardless of the weather conditions.

For Sarah Scire, a 2006 Salem High graduate, attending the Turkey Trot gives her the chance to see people she knew in school, including those she played soccer and tennis with and rode on the school bus with. And she likes seeing the parents of her high school friends.

Scire, a close friend of the Peltz’s daughter, Danielle, has been a faithful participant at the trots over the years. She used to help the Peltz family plan the event by putting promotional fliers on mailboxes and placing markers along the course.

No preregistration is required. E-mail WindhamTurkeyTrot@ gmail.com or call Louise Peltz at 437-4422 for details.

Windham man rides to raise money for cancer

Salem Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:49:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

When thousands of bicyclists ride through Massachusetts to raise money for cancer victims, Windham’s Steve Horaj will be among them.

Horaj will put his endurance to the test when he rides 163 miles over just two days. He will be participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge, whose organizers hope to raise $34 million this year for the Dana- Farber Cancer Institute.

“Who doesn’t know someone who hasn’t been affected by cancer?” said Horaj, who will ride from Wellesley to Provincetown on Aug. 2 and 3.

Since 1980, the annual bike-a-thon has raised more than $204 million through the Jimmy Fund for cancer treatment and research. The event raises more money for charity than any other athletic event in the country.

More than 5,500 cyclists are expected to participate this year. Each cyclist chooses from seven routes and rides one or two days.

Horaj, 20, a 2006 Salem High School graduate, began cycling while doing a college externship in Los Angeles as a way to beat heavy traffic. His enthusiasm for riding grew – fueled in part by coverage of the Tour de France – and by the end of his time in L.A., he was riding about 60 miles a day for exercise.

“I got really into it,” said Horaj, who was cooking at a hotel in Beverly Hills at the time. “I loved riding, I loved exercising.”

Horaj has found inspiration from Lance Armstrong, the road cyclist champion who battled testicular cancer and won the Tour de France seven times. Armstrong established a foundation that helps cancer victims.

“I think he’s a great motivator. That’s what I look up to,” said Horaj, who is reading Armstrong’s autobiography, “It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life.”

Horaj recently earned an associate’s degree in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., and is now working as a line cook at a Boston restaurant and bakery shop.

Although this will be his first charity bike ride, he has previously helped others. He participated in a Relay for Life, held at Salem High School, to benefit the American Cancer Society. And he was in a peer outreach program, No Butts About It, that brought an anti-smoking, anti-drug use message to younger students.

Horaj, who has committed to raising $4,000 for the bike-a-thon, is willing to put the name of cancer victims on his jersey if people would like him to ride in honor of a loved one.

The Pan-Mass Challenge can be an emotional event for its riders. Loved ones of cancer victims express their thanks and hold signs of cancer patients. Riders have been known to wipe away tears, said Horaj.

“It’s supposed to be a very emotional thing,” he said.

How you can help

To help Steve Horaj raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, go to www.pmc.org. Click on “Donate” in the upper left hand corner. When “Sponsor Rider with Donation” appears on the screen, you can donate to Stephen Horaj using his eGift number, SH0148. Or you can mail a donation, made payable to PMC, and send it to Horaj at his home: 6 Red Fox Road, Windham, NH

Running for help – Annual run/walk-athon supports local domestic violence victims

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:55:00 GMT

BY LESLIE A. TOOMY

The members of four local police departments take domestic violence calls seriously. And they’re doing more than just their jobs to combat it.

This year marks their fifth annual 5K run/walk-athon race to educate the public and benefit victims of domestic abuse.

“(Domestic violence calls) are our very highest risk calls,” said Pelham police officer Anne Perriello, who has been strong supporter in the United Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Run/Walk-athon. “When you walk into a domestic violence situation, things can escalate very quickly. It is important that police officers are educated.”

The event was coordinated by a joint committee from police departments in Hudson, Pelham, Salem and Windham and took place for about an hour last Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at the Pelham police station.

“In the past, we averaged about 75 to 120 people there,” says Perriello “Sometimes it works out to our benefit to hold it on Columbus Day. We usually get 25 to 20 preregistrations. Next year’s event will take place on Oct. 11.”

Perreillo said that in recent years, education about domestic violence has increased, and her intention has been to make sure that even if victims don’t come to the police, they will know those resources are still there for them.

What are those resources? This year and in prior years, the United Against Domestic and Sexual Violence road race has benefited A Safer Place and Bridges, two local nonprofit agencies that have been providing free shelter and support services for domestic violence victims for decades.

A Safer Place was founded in 1978 and offers 24-hour support services at 854-3552 and free shelter facilties.

Their Web site at www.asafeplacenh.org encourages victims to develop a safety plan, access information on community resources and legal advice and review testimonials of individuals who have received help from them.

According to their data, one in two homes in America “is the scene of one type or another of relationship violence at least once a year. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence – it doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t take into account your age, your gender, or your race. It doesn’t matter how much money you have. It doesn’t matter how well educated you are.”

Bridges, based in Nashua and Milford, was established in 1977 with a core mission of eliminating domestic violence. They offer resources and shelter information and rely on the following values and commitments: “trust and integrity, respect and empowerment, nonviolence, and empathy and service.”

You can contact them online at www.bridgesnh.org or call 889-0858 24 hours a day.

Perreillo said the road race provides a good opportunity for police officials to talk to everyone about domestic violence.

“People like to keep their problems outside the public eye,” she said. “The whole point of this race is to let people know we care.”

The goal of the road race has been to raise as much money as possible to keep these local non-profit organizations on track with their mission of providing aid to domestic abuse victims.

“Every dime helps,”said Perriello. “A lot of businesses donated this year. They even provided water for the road race.”