On a late afternoon earlier this month, I got an urgent email
from the Children’s Tumor Foundation looking for supporters in the New York area
who could come into the city the next morning.CTF had been given a last minute opportunity to ring the Opening Bell at
the New York Stock Exchange!I jumped at
the chance—what a fantastic way to celebrate NF Awareness Month!Jane couldn’t join me because she had her AP
US History exam the following day :(
The NYSE had a large boardroom set up just for us
Leanna Scaglione was chosen as the bell ringer. She lives with NF2 and runs with the NF Endurance Team--we ran the NYC Half Marathon together this year. This amazing woman had brain surgery for NF2 just two months before the race!
Simon Vukelj, Chief Marketing Office of the Children's Tumor Foundation (and my Yale '92 classmate!)
The Exchange had the CTF logo everywhere!
Our view from the bell podium
With Barbara Gallagher, a VP at CTF, who also ran the NYC Half with me
We got to "tag" the wall as we left the podium
My contribution :)
Simon and me
On the red carpet
They even had the CTF logo on the building outside!
CTF wrote about the event in its May newsletter. And you can see the video here:
As NF Awareness Month comes to a close, we are still waiting
on final results from NIH (from our visit a month ago!)I hope to be able to post them soon.
Helen Update:A Long-Expected Party
Helen graduated from Mount Holyoke College this week!We are so proud of her and her
accomplishments!
Preparing for the Laurel Parade. Held the day before graduation, the Laurel Parade is a ceremony in which graduates walk through the campus draped in laurels and are cheered on by MHC alumna.
Helen with friends
With both Grandmas!
Dinner after the Laurel Parade
Commencement!
A big hug from Jane
Walking through the Gates. It's considered bad luck to walk through the Gates before you've graduated. Not for Helen anymore!
