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Two Girls Giving Hope Hold First Fundraiser
By Jackie Schatell
Two-time cancer survivor, Alexandra Vizzone, 27, of Roseland, and her best friend since childhood, Tyler DiPaolo have started a non-profit called 2 Girls Giving Hope, which raises awareness and donates proceeds to children battling terminal cancer. In addition, the charity runs bone marrow swab drives and supports children with wishes who were ineligible for the Make a Wish program.
2 Girls Giving Hope held their first fundraiser with raffle baskets and a 50/50 in April at the Mad Hatter in Hoboken, where over 200 guests attended. All of the proceeds will be donated to multiple children and their families with terminal cancers. The restaurant is also donating 20% of proceeds from a specialty 2 Girls Giving Hope menu for the full month of April to the charity. The charity is already starting to plan their next fundraiser with hopes to do two events per year.
“We are shocked at how much growth, momentum, and interest we have seen in our new non-profit,” says Alexandra. “2 Girls Giving Hope started off as simply giving hope to families who need it. After surviving a terminal illness all I’ve ever wanted to do was give others the hope and faith I had throughout my treatment. I am using my story to push forward and help others.”
Alexandra was diagnosed with a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia at age 15, caused by environmental factors, and spent years in recovery. A clinical trial from Memorial Sloan Kettering and a stem cell transplant from a donor in Germany would be the treatment that saved her life. However, nine years later, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and is currently having a relapse that spread to her lymph nodes. However, she remains positive that she will come out on top.
“I feel there is not enough information being dispersed about childhood cancers, yet there are so many children afflicted,” says Alexandra. “This charity and our events are my way of giving back and spreading awareness.”
