Heart Warmers Join Cycle for Survival and Fight Against Rare Cancers

http://livingston.patch.com/articles/heart-warmers-join-fight-against-rare-cancers
Roger Black of Livingston knows how it feels to lose a loved one to a rare cancer. His mother Nancy died five years ago – “five years and one month to be exact,” he says. Black graduated from Livingston High School in 1992 and knew Jennifer Goodman Linn, founder of Cycle for Survival, a charity that has raised more than $5 million for cancer research.

“We all live our lives knowing we can do more,” said Black, owner of Stonybrook Day Camp. “This is a local cause. If we don’t get behind this, what do we have?”

Linn has been battling a rare cancer for the past six years. She’s inspired thousands of people to help her in her efforts to support research on rare cancers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Rare cancers are far more prevalent than the term implies – more than half of people with cancer have a form of the disease considered "rare." The list includes pancreatic, sarcoma, uterine, cervical, brain, metastatic melanoma, stomach cancer and all pediatric cancers.

Linn, who was inducted into the Livingston High School Hall of Fame this past fall, attended Hillside Elementary School, where teachers hope to raise $10,000 as they join Cycle for Survival for the first time with a team they call H.E.A.R.T Warmers (Helping to Encourage Awareness of Rare cancers for Those in Need).

Black kicked off their donation drive with a $500 matching grant on Friday afterschool for the teachers’ first $500 raised. He’s giving on many levels, as an LHS alumn inspired to join the Livingston-connected friends already involved, and also as the son of a parent who died from cancer.

Black lives in town with his wife Amanda and their son, Nate, who is named for his grandmother, Nancy Black. She was also treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering for a rare brain cancer before succumbing to the disease.

Livingston will have a satellite spin on February 12 with the teachers from Hillside spearheading a ride at New York Sports Club. Township residents are invited to join them as riders or donors. You can learn more @ www.cycleforsurvival.org and register to join the H.E.A.R.T Warmers team by using the password Hillside. For more information, email hillsidecycleforsurvival@yahoo.com.



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