05-02-2025
World Cancer Day – One Erie resident spent decades raising money to find a cure
Tuesday is World Cancer Day, and one volunteer has spent decades raising funds.
One Erie resident is teaming up with the American Cancer Society to raise awareness and find a cure.
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'Cancer has touched so many lives. My grandmothers, a lot of my family, there's a lot of colleagues we've lost along the way,' said Melissa Lesniewski, secretary of Gannon University's occupational therapy program. 'To see them go through what they did, it's really hard.'
Meet Melissa Lesniewski — She's dedicated the last 35 years to raising funds to fight cancer.
She, along with Gannon University's Support Staff Association wanted to contribute to the American Cancer Society over three decades ago.
Since then, their campaign Daffodil Days has blossomed into something that brings hope when there seems like there's none left.
'I think that's what's so special about the daffodils when you see them come in the spring it's kind of like winter, you know that spring's coming and you see the flowers blooming and it just brings hope,' said Lesniewski.
Lesniewski has distributed tens of thousands of flowers and the American Cancer Society is recognizing her with an award for the countless dollars she has raised.
'The fact that we actually know that Mellissa's been involved for 35 years is really special for us.''you get flowers in return for your donation and we have all sorts of opportunities from getting flowers yourself as well as making a donation of flowers being delivered to cancer patients,' said Michelle Ducharme, associate director of development for the American Cancer Society.
Ducharme said she hopes World Cancer Day can raise awareness for not only those at risk but for the treatments that have developed.
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'Tobacco still remains the one cause of cancers worldwide, obesity plays a huge role as well as alcohol consumption, sun exposure,' said Ducharme.
One in two men and one in three women in America will be diagnosed in their lifetime and for that reason, Lesniewski continues to bring something bright to their campus.
'Everybody's affected by it. I don't think there's been anybody that can say that they haven't known or had a family member that has been touched by it,' said Lesniewski. 'It doesn't take a lot to raise money for a good cause.'
Orders will be taken from now until February 18 and flowers will arrive the week of March 17.
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