Town of Huntington employees contributed $1,555 towards cancer research recently by participating in the American Cancer Society's 2011 Daffodil Days Campaign, the 26th year Town employees have taken part in the event.
As part of the fundraiser, 103 Town employees purchased daffodils – the first flower of Spring and a universal symbol of hope – as a colorful reminder that people are surviving cancer every day. Six Town employees purchased a bunch of daffodils and a stuffed toy bear, and 25 employees donated gifts of hope.
At the March 8 meeting, Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and members of the Town Council presented a proclamation presented to Ann K. Thorsen, senior director of special events for the American Cancer Society, declaring March Daffodil Days Month. Huntington Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia, former Vice-President of the American Cancer Society's Huntington Unit, joined the Town Board in presenting the proclamation.
The proclamation noted that Daffodil Days has the power to supply more than $2 million dollars in cancer research on Long Island and to help 13,000 newly-diagnosed cancer patients on Long Island cope with their disease through support groups, rehabilitation and other vital patient services. Additionally, the proclamation noted, Daffodil Days has the power to reach more than 150,000 Long Islanders with lifesaving prevention and early detection programs and to answer more than 7,000 phone calls for information and counseling through the Society's toll-free Cancer Information Line (800) ACS-2345.
