Day 2 of 25 DAYS OF HUGGING:
We would not be here without the dedication and tireless efforts of the Board of the Christina Carinato Charitable Foundation. We were not going to let cancer dictate how we would live life, and shortly after we lost Christina, her sister Gina and our great family friend Kim volunteered to serve on the Board. Gina was with us on Christina’s journey for every doctor’s appointment, every test. Kim was there for Christina and us, always with a kind word, a hug, a smile. From there we expanded....and Christina kept bringing us more volunteers.
Alyce had recruited Christina to her “mother’s brigade” at Forest Hills School, and now Christina silently recruited Alyce to join her charity and get the word out on the street as only Alyce can, and when Alyce is invested in something you better watch out! Cristina added her tireless work ethic and “young person” point of view, along with a dose of what would make her big cousin Christina happy. Nick is our artist in residence, our electronic and visual effects superstar who drags along his multi-talented wife Cristina to help as well. Christina is so proud of her cousins Nick and Cristina, who were but in high school when we got married and are now accomplished and dedicated to their callings. Antella of course brings the perspective of Christina’s heart and soul, the kind of quiet but strong bond that brought her and Christina together as friends. Jacki is the tireless bundle of energy that Christina fed off that now fuels us, always with a new idea or plan, and always bringing energy enough for all. Michael is the person who bundled all our web site short-comings and aligned them with our electronic vision, and still keeps coming back for more, because he too was touched by his wife’s cousin Christina.
And John and Donna are Christina’s representatives at the table, more like Christina keeping an eye on Matt and telling him when enough is enough.
This amazing group has built out the promise Matt made to John and Donna in those early days of 2017: “Cancer may have won this battle but it will never win the war, and we will refuse to let it claim us as victims either. We will do what Mom would want and help others when this is over. And somehow we will be stronger for this experience.” And so it was born, and we know Christina would be proud of all this amazing group’s efforts and dedication.
Please consider a donation to the charity at www.celebratingchristina.org/donate.
One day, one goal, one big hug at a time.