Updated 02/24/2008 01:19 PM
Community comes together for benefit
CORINTH, N.Y. -- It was a sea of red Sunday morning in Corinth as hundreds in the community were decked out in t-shirts that read "all of you need is love," the favorite Beatles song of 10-year-old Natalie Collura, who is suffering from a rare form of kidney cancer. The benefit breakfast is dedicated to helping Natalie and her family.
"Anything that we can do for them is what we will be doing," said organizer Meredith Jenkins.
Natalie was diagnosed early last month will Wilms' Tumor, a kidney cancer that affects kids. She gets treatments at Sloane-Kettering in New York City, as well as at Albany Med. All of this is taking a toll on the family, whose insurance doesn't cover all of Natalie's medical expenses. That's why all money collected will go to them.
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“You don't want anyone to go through this, but Natalie is such a sweet and loving girl that it's really heartbreaking to see her experience this,” said Larry Deso, Natalie’s fourth grade teacher. “But in true Natalie fashion, she has handled it quite well. The outpouring of support from the community has really made it an experience for all of us and helped Natalie to get through it also.”
And the hundreds of people who came out to support Natalie and her family hope to raise more than money. They say they hope to raise the family's spirit as well.
“We want to encourage the family and support Natalie and show them that everybody loves them,” said Town Supervisor Richard Lucia.
The fire department helped to put on this breakfast -- the same fire department that, less than two weeks ago, battled the biggest fire in the town's history.
“This fire company and this town always pulls together. Anytime we need something down we pull together to do it,” said Fire Chief Andy Kelley.
Natalie Collura
"You know the old adage ‘it takes a community to raise a child?’ It couldn't be more true now and it apparently takes a community to heal one as well," Deso said.
And Natalie's healing is the biggest wish that the town has for the young girl. Hopefully one they can help make a reality.