Genesee Cancer Assistance

Submitted photo and information:

This year the Lei-Ti Campground & Recreational Community's annual Labor Day Auction benefitted Genesee Cancer Assistance.

A total of $8,400 was raised and donated to the nonprofit Genesee Cancer Assistance Inc.

There were 110 gift cards donated by local businesses, and 239 baskets donated by campers. They also had eight large ticket items for the auction.

Lei-Ti is located at 9979 Francis Road in the Town of Bethany (its mailing address is in Batavia).

Press release:

The Walk of Hope (formerly Relay for Life) is a 12-hour walk to raise money for Genesee Cancer Assistance in Batavia.

The event is held at the Le Roy High School track. Participants form teams of any size and come out for the day to walk the track.

One member from the team should be walking at all times. Teams set up tents along side the track where they can relax in between walking.

Each team should have a simple event day fundraiser ( water sale, cookie sale, jewelry sale, etc.).

There will be music, food and games all day and night.

Themed games and laps will happen every hour.

• 12-hour Event: Aug. 3rd @ Noon - Aug. 4th @ Midnight
• Registration $10 per person
• Individual walkers and teams welcomed! 
• Free T-shirt with preregistration 
• 1st lap at the event with survivors 
• 2nd lap joined by family and support people
• Luminaries "in honor" or "in memory" of loved ones available for sale.
• Food available, basket raffle, music and more! Bring the family!

Set up a tent for your team -- ask your friends, family or co-workers to help us raise money for cancer patients. All money raised stays local and will help residents of Genesee County.

Call the GCA office for more information (585) 345-0417.

On Friday, June 28, Genesee Cancer Assistance will be hosting its 25th Annual Golf & Bocce Tournament at Batavia Country Club.

It is located at 7909 Batavia Byron Road. Golf registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and costs $100 per player. Bocce registration is $60 per player nd starts at 12 p.m. You can also register in advance; online at GeneseeCancerAssistance.org/golf, or call the office at (585) 345-0417.

Golf and Bocce teams will compete for a variety of prizes and awards. A steak dinner and raffles, including a “Dine & Sail” silent auction, will follow the games.

Sponsors are welcome. Seven sponsorship levels with various perks are available. Contact GCA for information.

All proceeds will benefit Genesee Cancer Assistance.

This year's honorary chair person is Bobby Aquino, who has been a dedicated volunteer for GCA since its founding. He has been—and continues to be—an invaluable asset to the GCA team and the patients they serve.

Aquino is an integral contributor to events preparation and setup—always ready to roll up his sleeves and do whatever is needed. Genesee Cancer Assistance is also exceedingly grateful for Aquino's generous financial support.

Genesee Cancer Assistance, cofounded in 1993 by Dorothy Schlaggel and Russ Romano, is a community-based, volunteer organization through which cancer patients and their families living in Genesee County have access to financial aid and a variety of support services.

Since its founding, Genesee Cancer Assistance has been fortunate to aid thousands of individuals; hundreds of patients each year.

For more information:

Genesee Cancer Assistance

127 North St., Batavia, NY 14020

(585) 345-0417

GeneseeCancerAssistance.org

Submitted photo and press release:

Please join Genesee Cancer Assistance on Thursday, April 11th, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Ascension Parish Hall (17 Sumner St., Batavia) for Joe Gerace's Annual Spaghetti Dinner. 

Dine in or take out. Dinners are $10 for adults, and $7 for children ages 5 through 12 years. Dinners for children under 5 years old are free. As in years past, complementary dinners will be available to any veteran or active duty military. There will be ample parking, and the facility is handicap accessible.

The dinner will include various raffles: a 50/50 raffle, $100 money tree, wine & chocolate baskets, and more! Winners do not need to be present.

All proceeds will benefit Genesee Cancer Assistance. 

Genesee Cancer Assistance, cofounded in 1995 by Dorothy Schlaggel and Russ Romano, is a community-based, volunteer organization through which cancer patients and their families living in Genesee County have access to financial aid and a variety of support services. Since its founding, Genesee Cancer Assistance has been fortunate to assist thousands of individuals; hundreds each year.

A lifelong Batavia resident, and one of the original members to sit on GCA's board of directors, Joe Gerace was passionately committed to helping people afflicted with cancer. He is the originator of the Simply Beautiful program and the Spaghetti Dinner that is held in his honor each year. Joe gave selflessly to the mission of Genesee Cancer Assistance until he lost his own courageous battle with cancer on Nov. 17, 2016.

Call the GCA office for more information, or to purchase your tickets in advance: (585) 345-0417.

Batavia Country Club was filled with players in the annual fundraiser for Genesee Cancer Assistance yesterday afternoon (6-29). Many golf and bocce teams helped support the event to raise funds for charity.

The sponsors, volunteers and door prize donors from local and regional area businesses were a huge part of the success. 

This year’s honorary chairpersons were Deb and Dan Fischer, who are pictured below with Sue Underwood, executive director of the local charity.

Genesee County’s local radio station WBTA (FM 100.1 / AM 1490) in Batavia is co-owned by the Fischers, who are actively involved in the community and longtime supporters of Genesee Cancer Assistance.

The couple serves on many organizational club boards and committees and co-chair the annual bocce tournament. 

Supporting the event helps offset expenses for cancer patients in Genesee County such as prescriptions and medical co-payments. Other services available to cancer patients who apply for assistance include a support group, and the Simply Beautiful wig and makeup program.

Team Winners:

Bocce – Sue Schuler, Katie Neff, Susie Ott and Scott Neff (pictured below)

Women’s score of 70 – Wendy Danisewski, Patti Darch, Brenda Galliford, Pat O’Brien

Men’s score of 61 – Jesse Meyer, Tyler Durkin, Tarek Jaboli, Joe Rosati

Mixed score of 74 – Willis Litter, Matthew Delre, Vincent Strollo, Carol Grasso

To make a donation or learn more about the program go to: geneseecancerassistance.com or call (585) 345-0417.

The Batavia High School Varsity Softball Team is pictured above donating a check of $1,000 to board members of Genesee Cancer Assistance.

The team raised $3,000 during a Bat-a-thon fundraising event called "Strike Out Cancer" on March 24th at Batavia High School. It was a priority this season as a way to contribute to a local charity.

"This was something our team and program wanted to do to make a difference in our community," said first-year Coach Jim Fazio. "Our girls went above and beyond in all of our fundraising efforts and this seemed like a perfect place to show our support."

Head Coach Jim Fazio presents the check to Board Member Nickie Fazio, who coordinates the Simply Beautiful program, and office manager Teresa Potrzebowski​ of Genesee Cancer Assistance.

Press release:

Genesee Cancer Assistance will hold its Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Thursday, April 19, in memory of Joe Gerace, an incredible, dedicated volunteer to the organization for more than 22 years.

This year's event will be held in Batavia from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Ascension Parish Hall on 17 Sumner St.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children and are available at the door or pre-sale from any board member. Takeouts available.

You can also call or stop by the GCA Office to purchase tickets, now located at UMMC hospital, 127 North St, Batavia.

Again this year, there will be raffles on site throughout the night including baskets of wine and chocolate along with a “Money Tree” valued at $100.

Genesee Cancer Assistance Inc. was founded in 1995 and is a community-based, nonprofit organization committed to providing financial assistance and free services to cancer patients in Genesee County.  In its 23 years of continuous service to our community, GCA has given over a half million dollars to more than 200 patients.

GCA depends on successful fundraisers. All money raised stays in Genesee County. Genesee Cancer Assistance reaches out to the community for help through local support, monetary donations, memorials, and volunteers.

This year each cancer patient receives $600 of financial assistance to help lessen the burden that comes with a cancer diagnosis.

For more information about this event, future events, and our organization, please visit us online at www.geneseecancerassistance.com

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department has closed out the Mo-Vember / Don’t Shave December campaigns for 2017. The department was able to raise $1,320 for Genesee Cancer Assistance during Mo-Vember.

Don’t Shave December raised more than $600 for Genesee County Sheriff’s Jail Deputy Nicholas Bender and his family. Members of the department would like to thank the community for their support and donations.

The Mo-Vember Worldwide Campaign started in 2003 in Australia and has since grown. Mo-vember was started to bring awareness to men’s health; specifically, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

Submitted photo: Sue Underwood, director of Genesee Cancer Assistance, receives a donation check from Officer Frank Klimjack. Also pictured, Sgt. Chris Camp, Officer Jason Davis, Chief Shawn Heubusch, and Officer James Prusak.

Bontrager Auction Center hosted its fifth old-fashioned barn dance and dinner last night with proceeds benefiting Genesee Cancer Assistance.

Top photo: Organizers Bob Stocking, Verna Oehler, Penny Arnold, Jackie Johnson and Julie Tybor.

Genesee Cancer Assistance held its annual gofl and bocce ball tournament at Batavia Country Club yesterday. This year, in memory of Joe Gerace, one of the agency's founders and a tireless supporter and volunteer.

There were 97 golfers and 18 bocce ball players, plus 30 volunteers, on hand for the festivities.

The event raised more than $15,000 for Genesee Cancer Assistance.

Photos and information submitted by Kayla Underwood.

Golf Against Cancer Golf & Bocce Tournament will be held at the Batavia Country Club on Friday August 18th, 2017. An 18-hole course has a links type flavor to it with it's wide fairways and large, undulating greens.

The watered fairways provide an even test of golf for all levels of skill. You'll love the scenic panoramic views you will be afforded during your round, especially on the back nine where you can enjoy a breathtaking vista of the entire course.

For the golf tournament: this is a 4-person scramble tournament. Hole-in-One prizes on all par 3 holes. Putting contest. Mulligans (can be used anywhere EXCEPT Par 3 holes) and Skins available for purchase at event.

While foursome registrations are encouraged, individual registrations are permitted. Entry fees ($95/Golfer) includes: Greens fees, cart, lunch, dinner, prizes, and loads of fun!

For the bocce tournament: Entry fees ($50/player) includes: bocce, lunch, dinner, prizes and a ton of fun!

Sponsorship Opportunities: If you, or your business would be interested in sponsoring this event, please contact the GCA office at (585) 345-0417. For more information, visit our site

Genesee Cancer Assistance planted its Festival of Hope tree yesterday outside the Wilmot Cancer Institute on Bank Street, Batavia.

Participating were Bev Henning, Lois Gerace, Nickie Fazio, John Morrill and Ed Kirby.

Henning and Kirby are cancer survivors. Gerace is the wife of the late Joe Gerace, cofounder and former board member of Genesee Cancer Assistance. Fazio is with Genesee Cancer Assistance, and Morrill is owner of Bubba's Landscaping.

Below, Sue Underwood and Fazio hang ribbons for cancer survivors on the hydrangea tree.

The event was catered by Red Osier Landmark Restaurant in Stafford.

Karen Rolland, Joe Gerace's daughter, and Dave Chase serve up a plate of spaghetti on Thursday evening during the annual Joe Gerace Spaghetti Dinner, held at the Ascension Parish Hall in Batavia.

This was the first dinner, which is a fundraiser for Genesee Cancer Assistance, held since Gerace passed in November at age 80.

More than 40 volunteers helped make the dinner possible this year and nearly 900 dinners were served.

Lois Gerace said the effort was awesome and that her late husband would be impressed.

"I think he would be overwhelmed by the beautiful job they've done," she said. "They've really pulled together. It's a great crowd. It's great to be able to carry on something that he started that meant so much to him."