Help Bianca: Syracuse NY event July 26

http://www.helpbianca.com/

Another "long overdue" item:

Bianca Bresadola is a seven-year-old girl who lives near Syracuse, NY with her family, including her twin sister, Mia.




Bianca was recently diagnosed with a osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer:

Bianca's mom Stephanie, her dad Marc and her twin sister Mia will be right by her side as she undergoes 40-weeks of chemotherapy treatments. Her other family and friends will be there as well, offering moral support and keeping her spirits up as she bravely faces a battle no seven-year-old should ever have to fight.

While her medical costs are partially covered by insurance, the family will face major expenses throughout her treatment, such as making their home wheelchair accessible, that they have no means to cover. There’s so little any of us can do to ease their emotional burden as Bianca bravely fights for her life, but there is something we can do to ease their financial burden.

We're asking our Central New York community and beyond to stand beside her and show their support, and help Bianca and her family through this most difficult and challenging time.

To help them out, their family and friends are throwing a benefit fund-raising party for Bianca on Saturday, July 26th from 5 to 9 p.m. at the St. Rose of Lima School in North Syracuse. Read more on this site about the benefit party we’re throwing for Bianca and her family and find out How You Can Help, and please, keep Bianca in your prayers.

I have not yet met Bianca, but she is the grand-niece of a coworker of mine, Mary. She is from the Syracuse area, and so has much extended family up here. I will be seeing Bianca, Mary and their family at the event this weekend. I am donating stamp sets to the auction and may even be doing some face painting, unless more help is needed in another area. Check out the site for information about the event, great photos of the family and things they have been doing in support of Bianca, including getting their hair shaved/cut at a local shop in solidarity click here for a fun video of that event on YouTube.

Of course, there is a long road ahead. If you come across this post after the weekend of July 26, know that donations of any kind/size would still be helpful. Visit the site to check in on updates. You can also post a note for Bianca.

Update: 7/26/08

Unfortunately, I started coming down with something last night and had to admit to myself by midday today that I was in no shape to drive up to Syracuse for the event and then back. Frustrating. I heard that they were expecting a "mob" - hope that is the case, but that the family isn't run too ragged.