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OSWEGO, NY – October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it got an early shot in the arm as Comedy for Cancer held at the American Foundry in September raised more than $5,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Oswego County Relay for Life teams, Karen’s Krew and Reyne’s Rainbow, hosted the event which featured comedian Moody McCarthy and music by The Cortini Brothers with Joanna Jewitt.
A capacity crowd in excess of 350 saw the evening kick off with emcee Romey Caruso warming up the audience with his irreverent wit and humorously relating stories of his medical episodes in an effort to underscore the importance of early cancer detection.
Breast cancer survivor, Karen Caruso, was then introduced to share her battle with and ultimate triumph over this dreaded disease.
Karen articulately conveyed the physical and emotional roller coaster she experienced during her journey through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Karen along with her sister and confidant, Reyne Knight, formed Karen’s Krew to help fight cancer financially and they received tremendous support from family and friends.
Karen recalled the joy of being cancer free for a one full year, but that it was short lived as six weeks later her sister Reyne died from complications associated with lung cancer that went undetected while she was being tested for other illnesses.
Reyne’s Rainbow was subsequently created in her memory.
Besides a great night of entertainment, Karen asked her guests to take with them three significant facts from the event:
1) Early detection is one of the keys to beating cancer,
2) The support that you give to a cancer patient, however large or small, is extremely important, and
3) The American Cancer Society is there to help cancer victims and their families 24/7.
After Karen’s heartfelt message, nationally renowned comic Moody McCarthy took center stage to entertain the enthusiastic audience with his wry and sometimes offbeat humor.
The evening was capped off by music from the Cortini brothers and the raffle of more than 30 gift baskets filled with merchandise and gift certificates generously donated by local businesses.
The hosts extended a special thanks to corporate sponsors: Associated Dental Arts, Burkes Home Centers, C&B Farm & Garden, Century 21 Galloway Realty, Great Lakes NY, Oswego Lions Club, Oswego Speedway, Pathfinder Bank, Patz on the River, RJ Caruso Tax & Accounting, Rodak & Kirwan, The American Foundry and Warner Physical Therapy for covering the cost of the evening’s entertainment.
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