Saint Ephrem’s School joined Bay Ridge in “going gold” for kids with cancer on Wednesday, September 17 in conjunction with The Gold World Project and Bay Ridge Cares’ mission to paint the town gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Students of all grades gathered on the side of the school building, Fort Hamilton Parkway and 74th Street, to tie gold ribbons to show their support for those fighting the disease, including one of their classmates.
“It definitely touches my heart to see that our school supports raising awareness for childhood cancer,” said mother Maria Guardavaccaro whose son, Tommy, a fifth grader at Saint Ephrem’s, is currently battling childhood cancer. “He’s so happy that everyone here has his back.”
According to his mother, Tommy hates missing school for treatment, and is happy to be back since his latest bone marrow and spinal tap treatments.
Tommy will be 10 years old this October and, according to his mother, had the support of his classmates, teachers and the Saint Ephrem’s staff long before Bay Ridge went gold.
“It feels pretty great to have everyone’s support,” said Tommy, who was diagnosed with leukemia in July of 2012. “I’m gold head to toe.”
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