THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 9, 1996 TAG: 9608070134
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 36 lines
Friends and family of Marie J. Boyd will host ``A Day for Marie'' at Prince of Peace Catholic Church Aug. 18 to raise money to help finance the 36-year-old Chesapeake resident's fight against cancer.
Boyd thought she was safe after undergoing a radical mastectomy and months of chemotherapy and radiation in 1993. But two years later, the cancer came back. In April, she spent four weeks at the Medical College of Virginia for a stem cell transplant to save her life.
The family's insurance plan did not cover the $75,000 treatment. Boyd's parents, Michael F. and Marie E. Janotka of Chesapeake, mortgaged their house and her doctor donated his services in order to finance the treatment.
Boyd has been in remission for three months now, but the bills still must be paid.
The Breast Cancer Support Group of Chesapeake General Hospital, the Breast Cancer Awareness Program of the American Cancer Society and Boyd's friends are sponsoring the fund-raiser at the Cedar Road church.
Boyd has been a member of the Breast Cancer Support Group since 1994.
``It is an amazing group,'' Boyd said. ``Whether it was doing errands or just giving hugs, they have always been here for me. Now they are planning a fun afternoon to once again help me out.''
From 2 to 5 p.m., Prince of Peace will open its doors for face painting, arts, crafts, decorating tips, baked goods, cookbook sales, Avon products, raffle tickets and entertainment. The proceeds will go toward Boyd's medical bills. MEMO: Donations can be made payable to the Barbara Anne DeBoer
Foundation on behalf of Marie Boyd at Life Savings Bank, Attn. Barbara
Elliott, 601 Lynnhaven Parkway, Virginia Beach, Va. 23452. by CNB