When Sara Steinweiss met 16-year-old Giuseppe Parrelli after hosting a workshop at Kingsborough Early College Secondary School, she immediately knew he was a special teenager.
Giuseppe had been diagnosed with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic connective disorder that affects one out of 20,000 births in the United States. In 2015, Parrelli was diagnosed with cancer from the disorder. The cancer affected his foot, which had to be amputated in December 2015.
Steinweiss knew she had to give back to Giuseppe and his family.
Steinweiss, along with Kathleen Conlon, owner of Indigo Murphy’s bar, will hold Giuseppe Parrelli’s Hope for a Cure Fundraiser on Thursday, June 30 at the Dyker Heights watering hole, 7102 Fort Hamilton Parkway.
“He’s an amazing young man with so much strength and courage. We want to raise awareness for his condition and just celebrate him,” said Steinweiss.
Janine Parrelli, Giuseppe’s mother, is thrilled with the support of the Dyker Heights community.
“Everybody is on board 150 percent. It’s wonderful to see the community come together for a kid who was just dealt with a really bad hand in life,” said Parrelli, who has been living in Dyker Heights with her family for 20 years.
She is extremely grateful for all of Steinweiss’s and Conlon’s help.
“It’s wonderful to see the community step in, and I’m so grateful for both of these women’s help in making it happen,” said Parrelli.
The fundraiser begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 30. A donation of $20 will be collected at the door, with all proceeds going to the Parrelli family. In addition, two tickets to the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Hamilton will be up for silent auction, as well as other prizes. For more information or to place a bid, contact Sara Steinweiss at s.steinweiss@gmail.com.
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