Chappaqua Neighbors Club rallies for member’s son diagnosed with leukemia

The Chappaqua Neighbors Club is on a mission.
August 21, 2009
by Suzanne Keay and Rosheen Taylor

Chappaqua Neighbors Club, a local social organization that primarily organizes fun opportunities for its members to meet and share common interests, including a book group, bridge groups and outings to New York City and beyond, has recently made groundbreaking progress in an entirely different area. Member Barbara Thornton’s only child, Anthony LeBruno, 27, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastomic Leukemia in March.

The club immediately set to work to find out how they could find a donor for him. A number of our members and their families quickly volunteered to do a cheek swab with a kit supplied by National Bone Marrow Donor Program (NBMDP).  The donor program informed us that we had broken a record by getting 80 people signed up as potential donors. 

Of course, most will not be compatible with Anthony, but could possibly be for someone else in the program. We do not have any way of knowing whether any of our donors is the match for Anthony. If you are interested in learning more about this wonderful, life-saving program, we encourage you to go to www.bethematch.com.

The great news is that on Monday, August 3, the family was informed that a donor had been found and Anthony will have his transplant in early October. Anthony’s 28th birthday is October 4. This is, indeed, the best gift he could ever get.

Local merchants, friends and family donate auction items to raise funds

Chappaqua Neighbors Club is now focused on raising much-needed funds for Anthony and his wife Vicki.  Anthony is obviously unable to work during this difficult time and his insurance is running out quickly. The goal is to raise $25,000 by November 1. This is where the larger community can step in and make another miracle happen. Log on to: http://sites.google.com/site/auctionforanthonynow/ and view the great items that club members, their friends and families and local merchants have donated. 

There is something for everyone and in all price ranges. For example, for sports enthusiasts there are Mets, Yankees, Jets and Giants tickets offered as well as ESPN Radio’s “Lunch with a Legend.” There are vacation opportunities to Bald Head Island, N.C.; Naples Cay; the Big Apple; the beachfront in Lyme, Connecticut; and Easthampton, New York. There are gift certificates for dining in – seafood from Mt. Kisco Seafood, steaks and chops, a case of Chardonnay from Dodd’s Liquor – and dining out, Le Jardin du Roi, Lange’s Little Store and Via Vanti. 

And finally, the auction items include services for people, pets and gardens: gift certificates from Desires by Mikolay, The Cosmetic Boutique and Club Fit, as well as for haircuts, dog grooming and garden consultations.

Because this is not technically an auction site, we will accept bids via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  Once you log onto the site, click on “Bid Here - And Learn About Anthony and the Auction.”  Then bid or buy to your heart’s content. And please forward the site to everyone you know. There are items that appeal to non-Westchester residents, too. 

Molly Burnett,Tess Cerra, Gail Dedona, Suzanne Keay, Annabel Kritzalis, Maryellen Phelan, Terry Robbins, Pat O’Connell, Rosheen Taylor, and (missing from photo) Barbara Thornton thank you in advance.