10 years of giving


To the Editor:


It is hard to believe that the Island Gift of Life Foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary. As we embark on our second decade, we find that the services we offer are in ever greater demand. 


The foundation began as a dream of Island native Cheryl Hannabury. Cheryl suffered from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Rather than being beaten by this disease, Cheryl not only made the decision to fight her own battle, which she did tenaciously, undergoing a host of treatments including two transplants, but as was her way, she foresaw an entity that could help others whose lives were in similar jeopardy. 


She knew just how difficult it was to not only endure the ravages of cancer and its attendant treatments, but at the same time try to negotiate the maze of doctors, hospitals, scheduling and insurance companies, while still balancing the needs of her own business and family. This was and is a daunting task for even the strongest among us. While Cheryl’s battle did end in her death, she was by no means defeated. Through her vision the Gift of Life Foundation lives on. 


The foundation continues its mission of assisting individuals who, like Cheryl, suffer from life-threatening illnesses. Our service area includes the four easternmost towns on Long Island. We are there to offer much more than financial support, though this we do. Our all-volunteer team is made up of insurance and medical professionals, social workers, clergy and a host of other community members in other fields. We assist individuals, as well as their families, who have been stricken by life-threatening illness. 


Among the things that we undertake are negotiating with doctors, hospitals, insurance providers including Medicare and Medicaid, airlines and hotels, etc., as well as approving monetary grants where appropriate. All this is an effort to insure that the individual is receiving the best services possible at a manageable cost. In short, we do everything possible to help those in need fight the battle. 


Another facet of Cheryl’s vision and our mission, in addition to assisting individuals, is the expansion of the bone marrow registry. This we have done traditionally through blood drives during which qualified people were tested as part of the standard blood donation process. Recently this testing process has been made much easier by the introduction of the cheek swab method. 


In either case, unlike blood donation, a qualified individual is registered permanently and needs no further testing until there is a possible match with someone in need. Our efforts have recently resulted in two such matches, one of whom resides here on Shelter Island. If you would like to get more information regarding the cheek swab method, please go to bethematch.org or contact the foundation at islandgiftoflife.org for upcoming drives. 


The work that we do to assist these people in need does, of course, come at a price. During our first decade, we have disbursed considerable funds in direct grants, no-interest loans to individuals, and monetary support of the bone marrow registry program. This past year alone saw this assistance exceed our income. 


While we are fortunate to have solid financial minds on the board who have insured that monies will be there, allowing us to continue providing assistance to our neighbors, we know that we must do whatever we can to keep the support coming into the foundation as well. We appreciate the fact that we are all living through a difficult economy, but understand that there are those who have greater needs and will continue to depend on organizations such as ours for the assistance they so desperately need.


Our 10th annual major fund-raising event is the Cheryl Hannabury Celebration of Life Community Cocktail Party, to be held at the Ram’s Head Inn on Saturday, March 6. It features live music, buffet, open bar and a Chinese and traditional auction with Ken Lewis as auctioneer. The event cost remains at $35 with tickets available at Casey’s Nail Salon, the Chequit Inn or directly from Gift of Life board members. 


For further information to donate auction items, make a direct donation or become involved with the foundation, please call (631)774-0110.


Thank you in advance for your support.


JAMES EKLUND, PRESIDENT


GIFT OF LIFE FOUNDATION