The Farmingdale community raised nearly $11,000 at a fundraiser on Sept. 17 at the to help the family of Valentina Bravin, a 4-year-old student at batting a brain tumor.
"It was a huge success," said fundraiser organizer Lisa Klein, whose daughter Samantha has been friends with Valentina since they met last year in nursery school at St. Luke's.
The night included food, karaoke, music and raffle tickets for prizes. The suggested donation was $50 at the door to help the Bravin family with medical bills and expenses.
Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Bravin was recently diagnosed with DIPG, a rare inoperable brainstem tumor. Due to its location and the speed at which the tumor grows, treatment options are very limited. Currently the family is in Texas where she is receiving a course of radiation.
"We need to raise money so her parents can investigate ever possibility out there," said fundraiser organizer Lisa Klein, whose daughter Samantha has been friends with Valentina since they met last year in nursery school at St. Luke's.
Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Klein said that Dr. Mark Souweidane of Weill Cornell Medical College and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are currently working on some cutting edge research that could provide hope.
The next fundraiser will be in conjunction with the John Thiessen Children's Foundatio on Oct. 29 at Mulcahy's in Wantagh. It is from 3 to 7 p.m. and $50 tickets are available in advance (preferable) or at the door. It includes open bar, food and there will be raffles and door prizes. If anyone is interested in purchasing tickets, e-mail lisajetsfan@msn.com.
If you cannot attend the fundraiser but would still like to contribute, please mail your donation to:
Friends of Valentina
c/o C. Aiello
3317 Fourth Street
Oceanside, NY 11572
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
