<!--Rick Forgione--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Rick Forgione</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:rick.forgione@niagara-gazette.com">rick.forgione@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
According to her former teacher, 11-year-old Jessica Stone always has a smile on her face.
She also suffers from a rare type of bone cancer and needs some help from the community.
A benefit to help pay for her medical expenses will be held today at 79th Street School, where Stone is a sixth-grader. The event, organized by the school’s parent teacher team, will include live entertainment from area musicians, refreshments and a kids bazaar. Tickets will be sold for basket auction, raffles and a cake walk featuring 100 cakes donated by local bakeries.
Stone, a student in the Falls School District since kindergarten, was recently diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, which is found in children and adolescents. The cancer cells in her body have spread and she is just beginning her long journey of battling the illness, which will require a minimum of six months of chemotherapy.
“When I think of Jessica, I have to giggle a little because she was very smart but also mischievous when she was a student in my class,” said fifth-grade teacher Chris Murgia, who taught Stone last year, “She always, always had a smile on her face.”
To raise more money, students have been selling $1 bracelets over the past few weeks with the words “Love, laugh, live, Jessica.”
Murgia got choked up when he began talking about the number of teachers, parents, businesses and members of the community who have volunteered their time or made donations for tonight’s benefit. He said over 100 baskets have been collected, including numerous high-ticket items such as autographed Buffalo Sabres sticks and jerseys.
Speaking of the Buffalo Sabres, Stone and her best friend will be picked up in a limousine this morning and taken to the hockey team’s practice where she will meet star goalie Ryan Miller, according to school officials. She will also be given tickets to a future Sabres game.
“You don’t realize the impact of how much the community is willing to give until it hits you,” Murgia said. “It has just been incredible.”
Monetary donations for Stone are being accepted. If you cannot attend tonight’s benefit, checks can be made payable to The Jessica Stone Benefit and sent to 79th Street School, 551 79th St., attention Karen Cassert. For more information, call Cassert or Amy Milleville at 278-7902.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Benefit for Jessica Stone
WHEN: 5-9 p.m. today
WHERE: 79th Street School, 551 79th St.
DETAILS: Jessica, 11, is a sixth-grader at 79th Street School who was recently diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer.
