A Great Summer

To the Editor:

It has been a great summer for the DeFlumeri Family. We started our summer attending Newtown’s second annual Relay For Life. I was very fortunate to have been chosen to be the Honorary Chairman of Newtown’s 2005 Relay, an honor that I will always be very proud of. We raised a record amount of money — $276,000, a figure unheard of for a town of Newtown’s size.

Many people outside of Newtown have expressed to me over the summer how impressed they were of Newtown’s commitment and generosity to the Relay. We are very proud to say we are from Newtown because just as important as the chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation is knowing while you are fighting cancer someone is watching over your family, helping with the daily needs of your children and wife, school, rides, extra activities, and meals enabling you to focus 100 percent on your recovery.

To all of our friends who have always been there for us over the last five years, our deepest thanks to you very, very special people. Thank you to Kaaren Valenta and The Newtown Bee, Aimee Zinser, Shane Miller, and the survivorship committee for the great gifts and to all the chairmen and staff, your dedication and sacrifices are inspiring. A very special thank you to four extraordinary people who have shown me what volunteering can do. This has been a very important part of my recovery; thank you Ivette, Dawn, Guy, and Linda.

Jack DeFlumeri and Family

25 Georges Hill Road, Newtown                                                                                              August 29, 2005