Genesee Cancer Assistance celebrated their 25the year of serving the community in Genesee County on Saturday evening with a celebration dinner at Batavia Downs.
About 250 community volunteers and some who have been helped by Genesee Cancer Assistance, shared their appreciation and love for the group.
Started by Dorothy Schlaggel and Russ Romano in 1995, Genesee Cancer Assistance, a local non profit. grass roots group, comprised of local professionals and community members, are dedicated to assisting those diagnosed with cancer in Genesee County.
The group depends solely on contributions from the local community.
In their first year, Genesee Cancer Assistance helped 8 patients, raising $945.
Eleven years later, they were able to assist 140 patients, raising $52,000.
In 2020, the group’s actual 25th year, during a pandemic, they found a way to still raise funds and assist about 120 patients, providing each person with $600 each. In 2022, the will be able to assist 150 applicants. Since 1995, Genesee Cancer Assistance has helped over 2,000 people in Genesee County and has distributed a half million dollars in assistance.
Just recently, the local Merrill Lynch office in Batavia donated $5,000.
“Cancer touches everyone’s life in some way, we all have a story about how cancer has affected our lives. I lost my mom to cancer, its what drew me to want to volunteer with GCA, I wanted to help others the way that people helped us. Since joining the organization, I have become a cancer survivor of almost five years. I believe everything happened for a reason and I really believe that our life experiences make us who we are today. It makes us so passionate about what we do here. We all share a common goal, that is to help others, and one day I hope that we are able to see an end to this terrible disease,” says Board President Nickie Fazio.
