UnWINEd: A Toast to Hope for a Cure
# aVineTime: The eighth annual unWINEd: A Toast to Hope for a Cure was held at Narcisi Winery in West Deer Tuesday night. Nearly 300 guests came to support the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation Cancer and Blood Disorders Auxiliary, which is the only fundraising arm of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. “Pediatric research is the least funded in all of the cancer world,” said Lacie Spagnolo ( with Jim), the mother of an 8- year- old boy who has dealt with cancer. “He has been off chemotherapy for 2 ½ years, and he feels like himself,” she said. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 4 months old. “This organization and event gives us hope there is always another solution around the bend,” she added. “These events create opportunities or our kids.” The event was chaired by Tiffany Casarcia and Debbie DePew, who welcomed everyone to the party, which included a silent auction, raffle and a live auction. “This eventover eight years has surpassed $ 1 million for the children’s oncology and blood disorders program,” said foundation president Rachel Petrucelli. Jodie McCartney was this year’s guest speaker. She talked about her twin sister’s leukemia. “She went through it three times, once when we were 14 years old, then in college and then when she was 26,” she said. Her sister died seven years ago to the day of the event. “Children’s was where she was taken care of over the 14 years of her battle with cancer, and I am here to tell her story and how Children’s helped,” Ms. McCartney said.
# SEEN: Sponsors Gene and Cyndee Trudell and Debbie and Jimmy Campbell, former Steeler Shaun Sui sh am with Erin, Stephanie Lemieux, Dr. Todd and Nicole Blodgett, board member Sean Gray, Tracy Gibson, Carol Ashby, Dr. Kelly Bailey, Dr. Andrew and Cindy Urbach, Andrea Kunicky, Dr. Linda M. McAllisterLucas and Melissa and Colby