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HERALD DECEMBER 29, 2022 - JANUARY 4, 2023
INSIDE INSIDE
A mother's efforts to combat cancer By Daniel Offner
R Rockville Centre hosted the village's inaugural menorah lighting on the village green. Page 3
Man pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in the death of an 18-year-old Rockville Centre girl. Page 4
Elementary students teamed up with SSHS's wood design class to build their own snowmen. Page 25
For BrEAKING NEWS go to liherald.com
oughly 1,050 children in the United States under age 15 were expected to die of cancer in 2022, according to the American Cancer Society, which lists cancer as the second leading cause of death for children, after accidents. Mary Ruchalski was a seventh-grade student at St. Agnes Cathedral School in 2017 when she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that affects muscle tissue. After she underwent months of intense treatment, doctors told her there was nothing more they could do. “Why not?” Mary replied. Her mother, Carol Ruchalski, said that moment was the turning point. It was then, she said, she knew something more had to be done about her daughter’s, and other children’s, cancer. Mary died in 2018, but her memory has lived on in the hearts of friends, family members and others in the community. Because of the rarity of her cancer, little progress had been made in combating it, and due to a lack of research funding, there had been no new treatments since 1982. Having seen what her daughter went through, Carol decided to create the Mary Ruchalski Foundation in her honor, with the goal of raising awareness of and funding for the fight against pediatric cancer. All the money the foundation raises goes to research at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where scientists are working on new pharmaceutical treatment specifically for rhabdomyosarcoma. On Dec. 15, Carol and her husband, Francis, visited the laboratory to present it with a $100,000 check. To date, the Mary Ruchalski Foundation has raised almost a half-million dollars for the cause. It has also given more than $100,000 to other families of childhood cancer patients facing financial hardships. Carol Ruchalski’s efforts to spread the word about pediatric cancer have inspired many others to volunteer to help raise money and awareness across Long Island. For all of her work, the Herald is proud to name her its 2022 Person of the Year. “What I am most grateful for is how
HERALD PERSON oF THE YEAR
CArOl ruChAlski What I am most grateful for is how the youth have embraced Mary and our foundation.
Carol Ruchalski the youth have embraced Mary and our foundation,” Carol said. “I love how kids are so involved. And some of these kids never even met her, but they love her story and want to get involved." Mary is remembered for her talents as a multisport athlete and a top-notch student. She played lacrosse, basketball,
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soccer and competed in swimming as well, and was a top player on Rockville Centre’s 10-and-under Police Activity League softball team that played in the state championship in 2016. Some of her close friends and classmates wanted to help the foundation, and in 2020 they helped launch the Play 4 Mary campaign, which began by sponsoring charity lacrosse games and has, much like the foundation, continued to grow, and now includes girls’ and boys’ football, basketball, volleyball, soccer games and clinics. Kathy Paesano, one of Ruchalski’s close friends, who has been active in the foundation since its inception, said she was amazed at how quickly the Play 4 Mary campaign took off, and proud to see so many people supporting the cause. To date, more than 3,000 young athletes have taken part. Their efforts have motivated others to get involved, including members of the St. Agnes CYO swim team and the Be Like Mary campaign, which was created by her friends with the goal of spreading kindness to others. “I am so proud of Carol and all that the foundation has accomplished thus far,” Paesano said. “She continues to advocate for her sweet Mary and every other child battling cancer. The foundation has become a part of our community, engaging even our youngest to get involved and raise awareness for pediatric cancer.” Ruchalski said that celebrating Christmas with her family was something that Mary always loved, and that, thanks to this family tradition, she came up with the idea of hosting a tree lighting in September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, Rockville Centre and Continued on page 2 Daniel Offner/Herald
Carol Ruchalski, of Rockville Centre, has dedicated time and effort to spreading awareness of pediatric cancer.