Valley Stream group raises $15k to fight debilitating children's disease

About 100 people showed up for a fundraising walk at Arthur Hendrickson Park on Oct. 18 to benefit research to find a cure for a particularly debilitating disease that affects children.

More than $15,000 was raised for The AT Children’s Project, a non-profit organization that raises money to fight ataxia telangiectasia, a rare and fatal genetic disease that’s “like having cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, immune deficiencies, muscular dystrophy and cancer all rolled into one,” according to Claudia Diamond, who organizes the annual event. It is in its fourth year.

Diamond said she’s been trying to raise the profile of the fundraiser each year. She said participants enjoyed a nice walk that looped through Valley Stream State Park and ended at Hendrickson Park’s gazebo for coffee and bagels. “It was a fun morning raising money for a really good cause,” she said. “We were very happy to have more of the community involved in our walk this year, and hope to continue to have our event become bigger in the future.”

Several local businesses made donations for the cause: Magic Bagels supplied bagels and salad, Starbucks in Franklin Square supplied the coffee, and donations of money or items for raffles were made by Astoria Bank, the Valley Stream Lions Club, Sip This, P.J. Harper’s, Mitchell’s Diner and Valley Caterers. Signs for the walk were provided by Valley Signs and LMN Printing Company in Valley Stream.

“We are very thankful for all of the community support,” Diamond said.