by Kristina Gabalski
The 15th annual March Madness benefit basketball game between the Churchville-Chili LEO Club and the Churchville Lions Club is set for Sunday, March 3 at 1 p.m. at the new C-C Middle School gym.
This year the event will benefit the John Carr family of Chili. John and Deb Carr’s young son, Patrick, is battling a form of cancer called neuroblastoma.
“We’re hanging tough,” Deb Carr says of her family.
Patrick is nine years old and a third grader at Chestnut Ridge School. He has been battling cancer for most of his life – being diagnosed in 2008 when he was four, Deb says.
He wrapped up another round of chemotherapy recently and began radiation February 18, she adds.
“He takes it all with a positive attitude and keeps the family going – kids are resilient.”
Patrick is just as active as any other young boy his age, swimming in the summer and currently playing hockey along with his younger brother, Gavin.
Deb Carr says after a difficult chemo session recently, she told Patrick to take it easy and rest in the evening. He insisted on playing hockey as he regularly does.
Support from the community means so much to the family, Deb says.
“It’s awesome and amazing,” she says. “People I don’t even know come up and say, ‘You’re Patrick’s mom.’ ”
Deb says benefits like the March Madness game are a great help to the family.
“Any time I’m off from work (to help Patrick), I don’t get paid,” she says.
Through it all, the family tries to stay positive and right now the news they get from the doctors is good, she adds.
“The tumors have shrunk.”
All proceeds from the March Madness game will be donated to the Carr family to help offset medical expenses related to Patrick’s illness.
The LEO Club team will be joined by the school Student Executive Council as the entire school community is participating in the Pennies for Patrick collection taking place during March. The Churchville Lions Club team will be joined by members of the Lions Club of Chili and the Churchville Volunteer Fire Department in an attempt to break their 12-game losing streak to the LEO club team.
Donations will be accepted by members of the LEO Club or Churchville Lions Club. Donations may be mailed to Churchville-Chili LEO Club, Churchville-Chili Sr. High School, 5786 Buffalo Road, Churchville, NY 14428.
