Thurmont raises $13,675 for cancer patients

(12/14) 2016 was the third year for Thurmont Think Pink, and this year, they once again surpassed the prior year’s donation. During the November 29 Thurmont Town meeting, members from local participating businesses, Catoctin High School and Town staff presented Patty Hurwitz with their donations.

The Patty Hurwitz Fund began in 2000; a year after Hurwitz was diagnosed with breast cancer. After that initial experience, Hurwitz and husband decided that they wanted to find a way to provide the best experience for men and women in Frederick County facing breast cancer, so they wouldn’t have to travel far to receive treatment. To date almost $1.5 million has been raised on behalf of the fund. With this money, Frederick Memorial Hospital has been able to purchase state of the art equipment for early diagnoses and treatment that wasn’t previously available in the area. In the future, this fund will also be supporting the new James M. Stockman Cancer Center that’s under construction at Frederick Memorial Hospital.

Think Pink is a way for the community to join together to raise money for an incredible cause. Businesses such as Gateway Candy and Gateway Liquors, Gateway Orthodontics, Eyler Flea Market Stables spoke about their contributions ranging from donation jars, to pink items being sold. Many first time businesses loved the experience and can’t wait to participate again next year.

Laurie Wilhelm presented $750 to the Patty Hurwitz Fund on behalf of Catoctin High School. The school’s football team, cheerleaders and student spirit group sold t-shirts and accepted cash donations during their October 14th game. Three young men from Catoctin, Chase Wilhelm, Shane Biser, Eli Free, Tristan Rice and Owen Brown presented Patty Hurwitz with the donation.

The first year Think Pink raised $4,760, and last year they raised $10,000. This year the community raised $13,675. Think Pink has really grown in the past three years, and Town staff believe it will only keep growing.

Robin Rose, the Vice President of Development for Frederick Memorial Hospital applauded the efforts of all the residents, businesses and the community. She spoke about the James Stockman Cancer Center and how some of the funds would be supporting that Center. Those at Frederick Memorial Hospital are excited that they can bring state of the art care to Frederick County. The protocol and treatment regiments that the patients will receive at Frederick Memorial will be the same as the treatment they would receive at the MD Anderson in Houston Texas, Frederick Memorial’s affiliated Institute with this Center.

Patty Hurwitz concluded by saying, "I just want to personally thank all of you, you’re just an amazing group of leaders and the fact that you’ve gotten your Town to come on board with this and you’ve been so involve. Of all the fundraising things that we do in October, this is one of the highlights for me and I really appreciate that you are honoring survivors in your community and honoring the memory of other people, it’s just an amazing thing you do."