AUBURN - Stacey Petrosino believes that “forever” starts with each of us.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
George Cramer, at right in blue, releases his white racing homing pigeons during the kickoff of the RISE walk through downtown Auburn Sunday afternoon.
George Cramer, at right in blue, releases his white racing homing pigeons during the kickoff of the RISE walk through downtown Auburn Sunday afternoon.
“Unfortunately, cancer is forever. It's here to stay, and we deal with it each and every day,” she told a crowd of hundreds who were gathered on Lincoln Street in front of the downtown parking garage, many brandishing pink balloons.
“But I say, dare to dream,” she told the group. “Don't push what you want in life aside because you think you're not worth it ... because forever is a dream, and without it we wouldn't be here today.”
Petrosino, along with about 200 others, participated in Sunday's sixth annual Rise and Walk for Breast Cancer, a fundraising effort presented by RISE, an Auburn-area breast cancer awareness group.
The walk included music by local DJ Jane Stebbins, the sale of food and other merchandise by local vendors, and one circuit of the loop between Lincoln Street, Loop Road and Dill Street.
On Saturday, the walk was preceded by a Rise and Ride, which saw about 200 bikers take a tour around Owasco Lake.
The entire weekend's events were dedicated to the memory of Marilyn Stregiel, a former Skaneateles resident and RISE secretary who passed away in December 2006.
“Marilyn can't be here today, but we'll have her memory forever,” Petrosino said Sunday. “'Keep believing,' she always used to tell us ... this walk, and our organization in general, wouldn't be possible without her.”
“My mother just felt a basic need to help others,” Stregiel's son, Jeff, said prior to the walk.
Along with his wife, Heidi, Stregiel was on hand Sunday to participate in the walk in support of weCAre, a Skaneateles cancer-support group.
“She had her own situation ... but I think by supporting other people, she was able to help herself, too,” he added.
“(Marilyn) was all about being an advocate,” Heidi Stregiel said, echoing her husband's words. “She collected as much knowledge as she could about her own cancer, so I think she was able to help other people understand what they were going through.”
Starting about noon Sunday, Lincoln Street was blocked off from William to South Street as people descended on the parking lot, most wearing pink shirts to support the cause.
Various vendors were scattered throughout the lot, including representatives from Tastefully Simple and the Rainbow Girls, a local volunteer organization that sold handmade pink scarves, the proceeds from which were donated to RISE.
At 12:15, numerous Auburn Memorial Hospital staffers arrived decked out in pink and bearing an inspirational sign, to the applause of the other guests.
At 1 p.m., after a brief speech by Auburn Mayor Tim Lattimore, race officials released several doves into the afternoon sky, and the walkers were off. Their route took the group around Loop Road and onto Dill Street before heading up William Street back to the parking garage.
Afterward, Petrosino had all the cancer survivors present gather in front of the bandstand as they basked in a long ovation from the rest of the crowd.
“Looking out amongst you, I see that 'forever' is here,” Petrosino said while addressing the audience. “It is through believing that Marilyn is in a beautiful place that we are able to inspire each other ... and we would like to thank you for keeping 'forever' alive.”
To learn more:
For more information on RISE, call Stacey Petrosino at 255-2612, or visit www.risecny.com
“But I say, dare to dream,” she told the group. “Don't push what you want in life aside because you think you're not worth it ... because forever is a dream, and without it we wouldn't be here today.”
Petrosino, along with about 200 others, participated in Sunday's sixth annual Rise and Walk for Breast Cancer, a fundraising effort presented by RISE, an Auburn-area breast cancer awareness group.
The walk included music by local DJ Jane Stebbins, the sale of food and other merchandise by local vendors, and one circuit of the loop between Lincoln Street, Loop Road and Dill Street.
On Saturday, the walk was preceded by a Rise and Ride, which saw about 200 bikers take a tour around Owasco Lake.
The entire weekend's events were dedicated to the memory of Marilyn Stregiel, a former Skaneateles resident and RISE secretary who passed away in December 2006.
“Marilyn can't be here today, but we'll have her memory forever,” Petrosino said Sunday. “'Keep believing,' she always used to tell us ... this walk, and our organization in general, wouldn't be possible without her.”
“My mother just felt a basic need to help others,” Stregiel's son, Jeff, said prior to the walk.
Along with his wife, Heidi, Stregiel was on hand Sunday to participate in the walk in support of weCAre, a Skaneateles cancer-support group.
“She had her own situation ... but I think by supporting other people, she was able to help herself, too,” he added.
“(Marilyn) was all about being an advocate,” Heidi Stregiel said, echoing her husband's words. “She collected as much knowledge as she could about her own cancer, so I think she was able to help other people understand what they were going through.”
Starting about noon Sunday, Lincoln Street was blocked off from William to South Street as people descended on the parking lot, most wearing pink shirts to support the cause.
Various vendors were scattered throughout the lot, including representatives from Tastefully Simple and the Rainbow Girls, a local volunteer organization that sold handmade pink scarves, the proceeds from which were donated to RISE.
At 12:15, numerous Auburn Memorial Hospital staffers arrived decked out in pink and bearing an inspirational sign, to the applause of the other guests.
At 1 p.m., after a brief speech by Auburn Mayor Tim Lattimore, race officials released several doves into the afternoon sky, and the walkers were off. Their route took the group around Loop Road and onto Dill Street before heading up William Street back to the parking garage.
Afterward, Petrosino had all the cancer survivors present gather in front of the bandstand as they basked in a long ovation from the rest of the crowd.
“Looking out amongst you, I see that 'forever' is here,” Petrosino said while addressing the audience. “It is through believing that Marilyn is in a beautiful place that we are able to inspire each other ... and we would like to thank you for keeping 'forever' alive.”
To learn more:
For more information on RISE, call Stacey Petrosino at 255-2612, or visit www.risecny.com
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