Philomena Florio
Fundraising on behalf of Ann's Place
Fundraising on behalf of Ann's Place
$1,615.57
Raised
28
Donations
$2,500
Goal
I am one of the owners of the franchise gym Burn Bootcamp in Danbury that opened early this
year! My partner and I recently hosted a workout to help raise money for Ann’s Place.
I was just 27 when my best friend and mother uttered the sentence “I have stage 3B
Adenocarcinoma of the lung”. My brother and I were devastated. It just didn’t seem fair,
particularly because she never picked up a cigarette in her life.
Like anyone who hears an advanced cancer diagnosis of a loved one and because we were
young, we struggled to navigate care for our mother. It was an organization like Ann’s Place
close to where we lived at the time that helped support us with both emotional and practical
matters that seemed to consume us. I will forever be grateful that resources were organized to
get my mother a wheel chair and portable-supplemental oxygen in a matter of hours when the
weather was unseasonably mild in late fall and we wanted to get her to the ocean for fresh air.
In spite of what seemed like an impossible feat, we were able to create what turned out to be a
final family memory for her and us. She passed just three weeks later. That however isn’t
where the support ends with organizations like Ann’s Place. After her death, I was buried in a
deep depression that could have possibly robbed me of my own life and again resources were
shared. I was directed to several bereavement groups that helped me process and accept the
loss of my mother. I model today in honor of Gina B. Santarelli 11/3/1950-12/9/2003.
Continue to R.I.P my sweet “Leo”
To all who have lost, I’d like to share a quote that helps me when I seek solace.
“To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.”
Thomas Campbell
Donor Wall9
Don | $52.23
Morph Med Spa | $124.92
Let’s go, Philly!
Marie | $52.23
Loren
Wahooo Philly! You got this 💪🏼
Rachel | $50
Concepcion Tomasetti | $124.92
In loving memory of Cherry Mercado, Lourdes Saguirer & Kenneth Robles! ❤️
Carlota
Go Philly! You go girl!!
Kimberly Murray | $124.92
In memory of my sister Jillian
Lisa Rockefeller