Charity gala to be held in memory of Mitchell Kraeling

Mitchell Kraeling Jr., died from a rare bone cancer in 2013. His family holds an annual fundraiser dedicated to his memory that benefits children and families struggling with pediatric cancers.

Photos courtesy Mitchell Kraeling

The Coral House, on the border of Baldwin and Freeport, will host the Winter White Gala, its second annual event dedicated to the memory of Mitchell Kraeling Jr., 22, — who died of cancer in 2013 — this Saturday at 7 p.m. The fundraiser has raised thousands of dollars for children and families dealing with

cancer.

“Last year we had an awesome turnout. We actually sold out [the event] and there was about 300 people there,” said Mitchell Kraeling, a Rockville Centre resident and manager at Island Electric Corp.

“It’s been rough,” Kraeling said of the loss of his son. “He was such a good kid, too … Out of nowhere he just complained about his collarbone hurting, and he had a tumor in there, and by the time they picked up on it, it had just spread to several locations. He battled it for two years, but he passed away from it.”

Mitchell Jr. suffered from a disease called Ewing’s sarcoma, a very rare cancer that grows in the bones or the soft tissue around them, such as cartilage or the nerves. Ewing’s sarcoma affects about 200 children and young adults every year in the United States, and shows up slightly more often in males.

Kraeling’s son was receiving treatment at Stony Brook University Hospital when Kraeling met Melissa Firme, co-founder and president of the Kids Need More organization, which provides aid to children and families faced with pediatric cancers.

“They helped me so much when my son was sick,” said Kraeling. “Whatever I needed, [even just] a call to cheer me up, they just do a lot of stuff … They came to visit my daughter, they took her out, they came over and played games with her, because at the time when my son was diagnosed, my daughter was like 8.”

“What we do is look to enhance the lives of children and families coping with cancer and life-threatening illness,” said Firme. “The way we do it is [with] our really great programs … One is called Camp Adventure, and it’s a one-week sleepaway camp for kids coping with cancer. We do it on Shelter Island. We have about 170 kids who join the program every year, and that program is entirely run by volunteers.”

The gala raises money on behalf of Kids Need More, and helps to fund Camp Adventure. The camp is held in August, and pairs trained volunteers with kids with cancer and their siblings.

Kraeling and his family have supported the program for years. “They just do a fun-filled week and make their lives more enjoyable,” Kraeling said. “For so many kids they can’t do a lot of stuff because of illness and their treatments. [The organization] does so much for them. They visit kids in the hospital, have all kinds of parties, they just try to brighten up the kid’s lives and do all kinds of amazing things for kids who are really sick.

“After my son passed … because they [operate] by fundraising and donations only, I decided to hold two fundraisers a year,” he added. “One at E.B. Elliot’s in Freeport in the summertime, and then I do one big one at the Coral House.”

Last year, Kraeling helped the organization raise nearly $75,000 for Kids Need More. So far this year from ticket sales alone, the event has raised nearly $20,000.

The Coral House event is a larger, more formal occasion than the Freeport fundraiser. Those who attend are encouraged to dress according to that year’s theme. “Every year we have a different theme — last year it was a Gold Gala, this year it’s Winter White Gala, and next year we’re thinking about a Masquerade Gala,” Kraeling said.

“We’re going to continue to do this for as long as we can,” he added.

For information on contributing to Kids Need More, call (631) 608-3135 or email info@kidsneedmore.org.