JACKSON – A township family is thankful to a local organization whose Race for Life event, is helping them during a challenging time.
The Knights of Columbus Council 6201 will hold its annual Race for life on February 18. Doors will open at 11 a.m.at its headquarters at 401 Bartley Road in the township.
This year’s event will feature full Daytona 500 coverage on 11 screens, a gift auction, food/beverages, a cash bar, door prizes and and a free T-shirt for the first 100 paying adult entrants. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for children 12-17, kids under 12 are free.
The event which is dedicated in memory of KOC member Chuck Washington will be helping a family that has been hit with not one but two hardships of health. Gavin Femiano is a 7-year-old boy who is full of smiles, loves the color green and dinosaurs. His talents include playing the piano and dancing and he is also a fam of the Miami Dolphins.
The youngster enjoys swimming with family and friends during the summer and is interested in mythical creatures such as elves, gnomes and leprechauns He also enjoys riding is scooter on sunny days.
His mother Tammy Femiano said “in 2016 we welcomed our second son, Gavin. At six months of age, he was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis (NF) Type I. At the age of 13 months, it was found by an MRI of the brain that Gavin had optic nerve gliomas (benign tumors).”
Three months later his parents learned the tumors had grown enough that they were concerned him going blind and chemotherapy would be required as soon as possible to save Gavin’s sight.
“From September 2017 – February 2019, we took Gavin weekly to Children’s Hospital Of Philadelpina for his chemo treatments. The treatment was stopped due to an allergy that his body had formed to his chemo. Along the way, he has encountered countless other health issues including gastroparesis, scoliosis, a large plexiform tumor in his abdomen, a few small tumors on his brain, low gross, and fine motor skills and more,” his mother added.
Femiano said, “we were able to shrink the tumors and stop the growth on his optic nerve but unfortunately the large tumor in his abdomen is not operable as it is touching his heart, major veins, and arteries as well as his liver.”
Shortly after Gavin completed his chemo treatments in 2019, “my husband Jeff began having trouble writing and using his right hand. Covid hit and it was difficult to see doctors,” Femiano added. “In late 2020, he started to have more trouble walking and began experiencing back and neck pain. After a thorough work up with an orthopedist and neurologist, he was diagnosed with progressive Multiple Sclerosis. (MS).”
She added, “unfortunately, he was forced into early retirement from his job as a corrections officer in Monmouth County. He currently is receiving infusions every six months to stop the progression. In my wildest dreams I never imagined that I would have not one but two members of my family who were so sock with debilitating conditions.”
“I pray every day that their conditions don’t worsen, and they are able to function in day-to-day life. It’s amazing that in that one second of your life when a diagnosis comes out of the doctor’s mouth how much your life changes,” Tammy Femiano said.
KOC Grand Knight Frank Schear said he was pleased with all the work being done to help this family and the support of the Jackson community. to reach out for charity.
Former Grand Knight Lou McGraw is spearheading this effort through this year’s Race for Life. “This is our 23rd year for this event. It started in 1999 when a brother knight passed away from cancer and he was into NASCAR and the family wanted to get together and hold a benefit in his memory. They ran the first one and they raised $3,000 and so what we’ve been doing over the last 20 something years is helping someone.”
“There is always somebody that someone knows who has cancer so we reach out to the council and we put on the Race for Life which is obviously called that after the Daytona 500. Not that we can run anywhere. Someone asked me the other day how far do you run and I told him ‘I run to the front door to hold it for somebody that is as far as I’ll go,” McGraw said.
McGraw added, “we’ve been doing it actually for 25 years, we had two skips and usually it comes from a member or someone we know in the community and this happens to be the grandson of one of our brother knights.
“Up until this year, they’ve been able to handle everything and now that the father was forced into retirement because of MS, the grandfather came to me and said ‘Hey Lou do you think you could help me?’” McGraw added.
“He’s a Lou to so I had to help him,” McGraw said with a laugh. He elaborated, “this guy, the grandfather is in his 70s and he’s been to every one of my events and he goes canning for donations in the cold and rain to help others and now he’s asking for help.”
“He is one of these members who is always there to help no matter what,” McGraw added. The last “Race for Life” raised over $24,000 to help local families. Over the past 22 “Race for Life” events, the KOC have distributed over $197,000 to families suffering from cancer. For those who would like further information about the event or to donate, e-mail McGraw at Louissm98@gmail.com or call 732-367-9788. You can also visit https://sites.google.com/kofc6201.com/race4life/home?authuser=2
