A widespread but close-knit group of cancer crusaders reunited on their Park Slope home street to raise thousands of dollars at the 10th annual 17th Street Cancer Crusade fund-raiser on July 25, and some warriors crossed state lines to be in their home borough for the do-good block party.
“I have relatives this year who came from Indiana and South Carolina, and friends who came from Delaware, Albany, and Maryland,” said Donna Maxil of 17th Street, who started the crusade 10 years ago after losing her cousin to breast cancer.
Old neighbors flew in from as far as Alaska to rally around the neighborhood group, which lit up the street with face-painting booths, raffle prizes, bake sales, and flea markets from Third to Fourth Avenue, all to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The hard work and mileage paid off — the group’s efforts raised an estimated $12,000, and counting, thanks to generous donations from supporters near and far.
“What’s amazing to me is the support we get from other people,” said Maxil. “We couldn’t do it without them.”
One out-of-towner came from Delaware for the second year in a row to canvas the street for donations with a friend who hails from 17th Street, and she says she doesn’t need to call Park Slope home to feel close to the crusade’s cause.
“It’s important to me,” said Caitlyn Debernard Overington. “I have a cousin that has leukemia, and one of my friends from college just had a baby and she’s dealing with remission from leukemia.”
Maxil says the homegrown event keeps growing, and the group’s memory banner — a banner with the names of friends and family who have passed from cancer — has grown with it.
“Our first it year was so small,” she said. “Within ten years, we have had to double it.”
