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Christmas in July delivers sunshine to young cancer warriors

Published August 14. 2021 01:38PM

By Ed Courrier

Special to The Press

The Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley brought abundant sunshine to the families of cancer warriors with their Christmas in July in Upper Macungie Township’s Grange Park.

“It’s just a really nice afternoon in the park for a lot of deserving families,” PCFLV Executive Director Michelle Zenie said at the July 24 event.

While PCFLV usually hosts a family party every summer, this is their first “Christmas in July” themed event.

“We probably will make it an annual event,” she said.

Activities included games, art projects, and appearances by Mulan, Ariel and Minnie Mouse, plus some elves.

Each child battling cancer and their siblings brought home Christmas gifts.

The families, arriving from all points of the compass, also enjoyed pizza, pretzel bites and the event favorite, shaved ice.

Looking like a fuzzy snowdrift, “Caesar,” a Therapy Dog owned by Dan Serbia of Alburtis, provided comfort to those attending Christmas in July.

The 12-year-old White Magic Samoyed found plenty of comfort as McCoy Rapa, 6, from Schnecksville, and John Notchey, 17, from Bethlehem, scratched his back.

Rapa is diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Notchey has Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma. Both have responded well to treatment.

“They [PCFLV] has been very good to us,” said Notchey, a Liberty High senior.

Gregory Smith, 14, diagnosed with germinoma brain cancer in 2016, and two of his siblings, Alyssa and Peter, celebrated a Smith family sweep of a game of bingo.

All three Schnecksville residents got to pick their prizes, with Gregory choosing a kazoo.

The Smiths also cautiously celebrate four years without a sign of cancer.

The Latimer and Carter families drove from East Stroudsburg to attend with AJ Latimer, 11, who is on maintenance treatment for T-cell leukemia.

Jasmin Boyd, 16, traveled from Mt. Pocono to volunteer.

She has been battling leukemia for two and a half years.

The Stravinski family brought Madeline, their 4-year-old leukemia warrior, and her brother, Austin, 7, from Green Lane to participate in the PCFLV event.

The foundation successfully pivoted to virtual programming for the families they serve during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The hardest part for us was fundraising,” Zenie said as she explained the virtual fundraising efforts weren’t as successful as previous in-person ones had been.

The executive director expresses hope and optimism that, as COVID restrictions continue to ease, there will be more opportunities to find support for their organization with in-person fundraisers.

PCFLV is a local nonprofit which provides financial, social and emotional support and programming for local pediatric cancer families.

With offices at 2132 S. 12th St., Suite 401, Allentown, the foundation is a short distance from Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, which provides pediatric oncology care.

For more information about the PCFLV, visit pcflv.org.

PRESS PHOTOS BY ED Courrier PCFLV Executive Director Michelle Zenie and volunteer Varun Pandian man the reindeer games tent. Pandian, 16, a junior at Parkland High School, serves on the PCFLV teen board.
Caesar enjoys having his back scratched by McCoy Rapa, 6, and John Notchey, 17. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, McCoy will enter kindergarten at St. Joseph the Worker School, Orefield. John is a senior at Liberty High School.
Above: Volunteer Emily Turek from Whitehall calls out bingo numbers while cancer warriors and their siblings compete.
Left: Bingo winners from the Smith family hold up their prizes. They include Collin, 11; Gregory, 14; and Alyssa, 9. The two younger Schnecksville residents attend Circle of Seasons Charter School, Fogelsville. Gregory, diagnosed with germinoma brain cancer in 2016, will be a freshman at Parkland High School.
Cole Nass, 4, attempts to land a ring on the reindeer antler hat his dad, Mike, is wearing. The family resides in the College Hill area of Easton. Cole's sister, Madelyn, 8, is battling leukemia as she enters third grade this fall.
According to volunteer Jasmin Boyd, the tree she created for the PCFLV event is inspired by the one from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The 16-year-old from Mt. Pocono decorated it with colorful flowers and leis to reflect the “Christmas in July” theme. She has been battling leukemia for two and a half years.
Isabelle Cincera, 19, mans the Kona Ice truck at the PCFLV party. The 2020 Parkland grad attends Northeastern University in Boston. Kona Ice is based in Fogelsville.
The Stravinski family pick up gift bags by the summer-themed Christmas tree at Grange Park. In front, is Austin, 7, and his sister, Madeline, 4. Madeline was diagnosed with leukemia, but is doing well. Behind them are their parents Josh and Susanne. The Stravinskis live in Green Lane.