This year, supporters of Stamford Hospital’s Hope in Motion and the 16th annual Walk, Run & Ride event have taken grassroots fundraising on in full force. In the weeks and months leading up to the June 5 event, community members have led the charge in planning and implementing a number of unique functions in an effort to raise funds for Hope in Motion.
Events of all sizes including a car wash, lemonade stand, bake sale, concerts, cooking classes, and sports outings have taken place all over lower Fairfield County. In January, Angelica Salem, a 17-year-old Connecticut singer, presented the Bennett Cancer Center with a $50,000 donation after performing a concert at the Palace Theater in Stamford with several well-known rap artists. A May cocktail party at Madonia Restaurant & Bar featured Bennett Cancer Center physicians as guest bartenders and, most recently, Salvo Randazzo, a 26-year-old cancer survivor, wowed an audience with his unique pop opera performance at the Italian Center of Stamford.
While events like these are a great way to bring Hope in Motion advocates together, they are not the only way for community members to get involved. Frank Colandro, owner of Mama Carmela’s Deli in Darien, has been selling Hope in Motion paper squares for $1 each while he fights his personal battle with cancer.
“Anyone who plans and runs a grassroots event can make a huge impact on our fundraising efforts,” said Erin O’Toole, Manager of Hope in Motion. “We see a surge of fundraising in late May and early June as we approach the Walk, Run & Ride, but it is important for the community to know fundraisers can be held at any time during the year, and the money raised will benefit the Bennett Cancer Center.”
Bennett Cancer Center patients are provided with a superior level of clinical care with access to world-class physicians, skilled nurses and the latest in treatment options and supportive services year-round. One hundred percent of donations raised during community events support the vital programs and services the Center provides to patients and their families.
Supporters looking to plan their own event can visit www.hope-in-motion.com for start-up materials or contact Erin O’Toole at (203) 276-5920 or eotoole@stamhealth.org for more information. Community members can find out about upcoming events by visiting the Hope in Motion website, and clicking on the “Community Fundraising Events” tab located on the left-hand side of the site or by checking the Hope in Motion Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn profiles.
About the Walk, Run & Ride and Hope in Motion:
Stamford Hospital's Walk, Run & Ride, Hope in Motion’s signature event benefiting the Bennett Cancer Center, is presented by the Stamford Hospital Foundation, the fundraising arm of Stamford Hospital. The event's founding and presenting sponsor is The Ashforth Company, a diversified commercial real estate firm in Stamford.
About Stamford Hospital:
Stamford Hospital is a not-for-profit provider of comprehensive healthcare services in lower Fairfield County and the region. The mission of Stamford Hospital is to provide, together with its physicians, a broad range of high quality health and wellness services focused on the needs of our communities. Stamford Hospital is a member of the Planetree Alliance, a group of hospitals nationwide focused on patient-centered care. Stamford Hospital is affiliated with New York Presbyterian Health System and is a major teaching affiliate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
