Category Archives: Health

(© 2020 Ann Parry, FromLongIsland.com) Merrick, New York, U.S. August 15, 2020. ANNIE FITZPATRICK, 12-years-old, and friends hold a pink shell with Fight like a Girl written on it. Lizzie's Army painted shells to sell to raise funds to donate to American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Annie's 24 year old sister Lizzie was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in late June . Over $3,000 has been raised so far through shell sales and GoFundMe.

Lizzie’s Army fights like a girl for breast cancer research

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
August 17, 2020

Lizzie’s Army

When 24-year-old LIZZIE FITZPATRICK – who happens to live a few blocks from me in Merrick – was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in late June, three tweens – her sister ANNIE, 12; their cousin MADDY; and Annie’s best friend ISABELLE – decided to turn their summer hobby of painting shells into a business to raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

  • CLICK on each image below to see a related photo
Merrick, New York, U.S. August 15, 2020. Tweens, L-R, ISABELLE, MADDY, and ANNIE FITZPATRICK, hold three of many shells they and friends painted, to raise funds to donate to American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The trio formed Lizzie's Army after Annie's 24-year-old sister Lizzie Fitzpatrick was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in late June. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, U.S. August 15, 2020. Tweens, L-R, ISABELLE, MADDY, and ANNIE FITZPATRICK, hold three of many shells they and friends painted, to raise funds to donate to American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The trio formed Lizzie’s Army after Annie’s 24-year-old sister Lizzie Fitzpatrick was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in late June. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

After seeing a News 12 segment announcing Lizzie’s Army was having a fundraiser selling painted shells on August 15th, I knew I had to cover it to help spread news about how Annie, Maddy and Isabelle are fighting like girls to raise money for breast cancer research.

Merrick, New York, U.S. August 15, 2020. At left, DESIREE VALENTINE, of Westbury, selects a shell ANNIE FITZPATRICK, 12, hands to her, during a Lizzie's Army fund raiser for money to donate to American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, U.S. August 15, 2020. At left, DESIREE VALENTINE, of Westbury, selects a shell ANNIE FITZPATRICK, 12, hands to her, during a Lizzie’s Army fund raiser for money to donate to American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Also, two days ago, Andrea Fitzpatrick organized the Lizzie’s Army gofundme campaign, and as of 2:18 AM EST today, it’s raised $2,480, so I feel pretty safe predicting it will not only reach but surpass its goal of $2,500.

Merrick, New York, U.S. August 15, 2020. Merrick, New York, U.S. August 15, 2020. @fight4thegirls is instagram account for Lizzie's Army, which paints and sells shells to raise money for breast cancer research. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, U.S. August 15, 2020. @fight4thegirls is instagram account for Lizzie’s Army, which paints and sells shells to raise money for breast cancer research. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Lizzie is currently undergoing 16 chemotherapy treatments, and is grateful for her incredible support system.

  • FEATURE PHOTO at top of post:  Merrick, New York, U.S. August 15, 2020. ANNIE FITZPATRICK, 12, and friends hold a pink shell with “Fight like a Girl” written on it. Lizzie’s Army painted shells to sell to raise funds to donate to American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

gofundme:  Lizzie’s Army

instagram:  @fight4thegirls

my Lizzie’s Army PHOTO GALLERY

CONTACT ME

Seaford, New York, U.S. May 5, 2020. JOEY CESTARE decorates his truck and makes sign with ‘Happy Birthday Ada, Thank You for being our Hero!’ and 2 schnauzers, for friend, nurse Ada Cea, a COVID-19 frontline healthcare worker at North Shore University Hospital, Northwell Health, on Long Island, during novel coronavirus pandemic. (© 2020 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

Happy Birthday Ada, Thank you for being our Hero!

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
May 21, 2020

Frontline RN Ada Cea

Long Island is a hot spot for the COVID-19 pandemic, so ADA CEA, a nurse at North Shore University Hospital, Northwell Health, has been staying at a hotel to avoid exposing her parents to the novel coronavirus.

JOEY CESTARE decorates his truck and makes sign with ‘Happy Birthday Ada Thank You for being our Hero!’ for friend, nurse Ada Cea. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Seaford, New York, U.S. May 5, 2020. JOEY CESTARE decorates his truck and makes sign with ‘Happy Birthday Ada Thank You for being our Hero!’ for friend, Ada Cea, RN, a COVID-19 frontline healthcare worker at North Shore University Hospital. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

JOEY CESTARE, her close friend and the owner of Signarama in Bellmore, wanted to give Ada a special surprise on her birthday earlier this month.

He decorated his truck and created a huge colorful sign showing a smiling Ada wearing a superhero nurse’s uniform, complete with red cape, as she ran with her two schnauzers.

Seaford, New York, U.S. May 5, 2020. At dusk, L-R, JOEY CESTARE and LAURIE GRAB are by truck decorated for friend Ada Cea's birthday. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Seaford, New York, U.S. May 5, 2020. At dusk, L-R, LAURIE GRAB and JOEY CESTARE are by truck he decorated for friend Ada Cea’s birthday. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

And based on a photo I saw captured on her birthday – when Ada saw Joey with his decorated truck and cheerful sign: “Happy Birthday ADA – Thank You for being our Hero!” at the front of her hotel, her smile matched the one on the sign.

FEATURE PHOTO at top of post: Seaford, NY, U.S. May 5, 2020. JOE CESTARE, owner of Signarama in Bellmore, stands next to his truck he decorated and sign he created, to celebrate his friend Ada Cea’s birthday. (full color version)

Birthday Truck for Frontliner Nurse:  MY PHOTO GALLERY

Signarama in Bellmore  •  516-783-1075
2956 Merrick Rd, Bellmore, NY  • directions

CONTACT ME

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. Francine Goldstein poses with one of many appreciation trophies she's received from AIDS WALK NEW YORK, a fundraising walk and run in Central Park.

AIDS Walk NY: Francine Goldstein’s 600K Marathon

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
May 4, 2018

A very caring, very determined FRANCINE GOLDSTEIN needs your help reaching her goal of $600,000 in total donations over the 30 years – yes, 30 years – she’s walked the walk for AIDS WALK NEW YORK.

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. Francine Goldstein looks forward to her 30th year of participating in AIDS WALK NEW YORK, a fundraising walk and run in Central Park on May 20, 2018. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. FRANCINE GOLDSTEIN embraces the challenge of having a successful 30th year of fundraising for AIDS WALK NEW YORK. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

AIDS WALK NY 2018: Francine’s Donation Page

Thirty years ago, Francine’s closest friend was diagnosed with AIDS and lived about only 30 months longer. As Francine and her husband visited her during those painful months, they saw how GMHC – Gay Men’s Health Crisis organization – was the one source of help. She promised her friend to do everything possible, so no one else would have to suffer that way, and ever since then Francine’s kept her promise. 

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. Francine Goldstein looks forward to her 30th year of participating in AIDS WALK NEW YORK, a fundraising walk and run in Central Park on May 20, 2018. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. Francine Goldstein looks forward to her 30th year of walking in AIDS WALK NEW YORK. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

AIDS WALK NEW YORK is famously the world’s biggest single-day fundraiser for AIDS, and over the years our family has known Francine, I’ve seen first hand it’s always the right month, the right day, the right time and place for her to ask someone to sponsor her. She’s seriously dedicated to raise funds to help – through GMHC’s prevention, care and advocacy programs –  thousands of people affected by the disease in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

A quarter century ago, AIDS touched my family. Touched? It slammed, smashed and destroyed someone I grew up with and loved and wordlessly expected would be around – would BE – for so many more days and decades. It’s a big reason I’ve joined countless others cheering Francine on.

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018. FRANCINE GOLDSTEIN holds special poster AIDS WALK NEW YORK created for her. At top of poster is photo of Sen. JOHN E. BROOKS presenting her with NYS Senate Liberty Award. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 3, 2018.Francine Goldstein holds special poster AIDS WALK NEW YORK created for her. At top of poster is photo of Sen. JOHN E. BROOKS presenting her with NYS Senate Liberty Award. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

May 20th, the day of the walk, is a couple of weeks away, and Francine’s about $15,000 away from raising $600,000. For 30 years and counting, she’s been running a marathon, and her white and red race shirt says: “AIDS WALK NEW YORK • GMHC END AIDS. LIVE LIFE.”

UPDATE May 13, 2018:  Francine’s about $9,600 away from her goal, and AIDS WALK 2018 is a week away.

AIDS WALK NY 2018: Francine Goldstein’s Donation Page

Francine Goldstein:  PHOTO GALLERY

CONTACT ME