Student athletes in the Comsewogue School District raised over $680 through the month of September to support the Dix Hills-based Daniela Conte Foundation, a nonprofit that raises awareness of childhood cancer and provides financial support to local families of children battling cancer.
“Our athletic teams united as one to support this great cause,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Quinn. “It’s humbling to see our students work together to champion a local organization that is having such a positive impact.”
Teams unified by sporting gold shoelaces and distributed pairs to all who donated at least five dollars to the fundraiser. Wearing gold shoelaces serves as a simple, yet powerful symbol of hope, love and encouragement to children battling cancer.
The Comsewogue School District’s fundraiser to support childhood cancer hits close to home. The District has hosted several fundraisers to support Tenzin Tanaka, an 8-year old Terryville Road Elementary School student who was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic (T-ALL) leukemia in June 2022. Tenzin, his brother Paxton and his mother Colleen joined the Comsewogue School District this September. Tenzin is currently undergoing chemotherapy, which he will be receiving until October 2024.
The Daniela Conte Foundation is a Dix Hills-based nonprofit launched in memory of Daniela Conte, who passed away in March 2020 at eight years old from a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. She fought for four years, during which she touched countless lives. Her parents Anthony and Katia started the Daniela Conte Foundation to help other families of children with cancer across Long Island and in New York City. The organization’s mission is to provide these families with financial assistance, raise awareness of pediatric cancer and fund research for a cure for Rhabdomyosarcoma.