Hundreds support Hope for Hannah
- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2014 10:43 pm | Updated: 11:13 pm, Thu Apr 17, 2014.
Not all fundraisers require a traffic director. However, Hope for Hannah did.
Orange cones and a whistle slowed traffic to allow for safe crossing.
On Thursday, JoJo’s ice cream shop on New Falls Road in Falls held a fundraiser for a little girl known in the Facebook community as Hope for Hannah or Hannah Bear.
Bundled in her zebra-striped blanket and sporting one of her knit hats and pink sunglasses, Hannah Ginion captured the hearts of everyone who met her.
Music played as the parking lots filled. Parking lots near the store were packed.
In June 2013, Hannah was diagnosed with a rare and fatal strain of leukodystrophy, also called Krabbe (pronounced Crab A) and Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy, a genetic disorder that affects the central and peripheral nervous systems, according towww.huntershope.org.
 |
| Photo by Diane Davies-Dixon Vicki Pizzullo and Hannah Ginion |
She was given a life expectancy of only 13 months to two years.
On Jan. 15 she celebrated her first birthday.
Hundreds of community members came out to JoJo’s to support Hannah and her family in their quest to spread awareness of Krabbe and raise money, which they did to the tune of $7,400.
Hoping to collect 15 to 20 baskets to raffle off, Hannah’s mom, Vicki Pizzullo, was overcome by the support her family received from people who don’t even know them.
“We have over 80 baskets and a flat-screen TV, all donated,” said Pizzullo.
 |
| Photo By Diane Davies-Dixon Hannah Ginion |
“This is an amazing community,” said Pizzullo. “They have always been so supportive.”
After working at the same place for 15 years, Pizzullo had to quit so she could stay at home with Hannah.
“You have to know what is going on with your baby,” said Pizzullo.
Now her time is dedicated to caring for Hannah and advocating to get a bill passed in Pennsylvania that would require newborns be screened for Krabbe.
“The community has been amazing writing the senators to have this put on the agenda,” Pizzullo said. “They just have to keep writing to them.”
JoJo’s owner, Debra Lee Kalbach, presented Pizzullo with flowers for her efforts in support of “Hannah’s Law.”
“There may be no cure for Hannah. But there can be for you,” she told those who gathered for the event.
Elmo, a big fan of Hannah’s, stopped by to say hi and pose for photos with the rest of Hannah’s fans.
 |
| Photo by Diane Davies-Dixon Ashley Vitale sings ROAR to Hannah |
A DJ entertained the crowd with dance music and a balloon twister twisted up some crazy creations.
All of the funds raised from basket raffles and 20 percent from ice cream sales goes to Hannah.
For more information on Krabbe, visit www.huntershope.orghttp://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/communities/falls/hundreds-support-hope-for-hannah/article_8a2766c7-8e5d-5029-997a-09c2532292a5.html
No comments:
Post a Comment