You may be aware that most weeks we highlight a volunteer in our weekly email newsletter. In response to that, we received the following nomination for a New Life who serves above and beyond. The “virtual high five”. I recently received the following “nomination” for a volunteer spotlight.
I would like to nominate New Lifer Gail Toth for recognition of her community Service. She is active at various New Life functions, e.g., Christmas Caroling with New Life at the nursing homes, but mostly she is a warrior for kids with cancer. Her daughter, Jennifer, also a New Lifer, had childhood cancer and survived and is now studying to be a pediatric oncology nurse. The experience with her own Jennifer deeply touched Gail and led her to a life largely dedicated to caregiving cancer kids and their families.
She is ever active in working with various fund-raising groups which devote themselves to assistance to and research to find cures for various types of childhood cancer. Her main efforts however involve the annual Freezin’ for a Reason Polar Plunges which Gail organizes. In addition to the Polar Plunge Gail also raises funds for and serves at Camp Sunshine which is a year-round retreat which provides respite, support, joy and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Gail has devoted thousands of hours to her work comforting and encouraging cancer kids. In just the last two weeks two of Gail’s little friends succumbed to their illness and Gail was right there with them in the hospital and hospice and at their memorial services and funerals comforting them and their families.
Gail at Camp Sunshine