SunriseWALKS Pep Rally kicks off month of Sunrise events

On Sunday, June 6th, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island hosted its SunriseWALKS Pep Rally in the JCC parking lot. The event was a socially distanced, tailgate-style Pep Rally leading up to SunriseWALKS, which will take place virtually on Sunday, June 27th.
 
Local families enjoyed an afternoon of music, food, and photo opportunities with the Humble Heroes of FDNY.
 
“We were so happy to see many of our generous donors, supporters, and Sunrise families at the Pep Rally,” noted Orit Lender, JCC CEO. “This was our first major in-person event this year, and it was a wonderful day to benefit a truly special cause.”
 
SunriseWALKS raises money for Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings. Sunrise Day Camp brings back the joys of childhood to children struggling with cancer, transforming months of loneliness and isolation into summers filled with friendship, laughter, and happiness. After a year of virtual experiences, in-person camp will resume this summer at Sunrise’s new home on the campus of Staten Island Academy.
 
In addition to the Virtual Walk at the end of the month, there are several upcoming events to support the camp. On Wednesday June 9th at 7:30pm, friends of Sunrise will be raffling off baskets at Joyce’s Tavern. Those who wish to purchase raffles or attend can contact Andria at [email protected] or call/text 646.372.7574. Ticket holders need not be present to win.
 
On Thursday, June 10th, Applebee’s will host a fundraiser for the camp at all three of its Staten Island locations. Applebee’s will donate 20% of all purchases by anyone who dines out or orders a carry-out meal in-person and presents the following flyer: https://www.sijcc.org/sunrise.html   
 
Lender added, “We are grateful to our community partners for all of their support. So far, we have raised over $250,000 for Sunrise this year, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of so many in our community. We hope these last few weeks before the Virtual Walk helps us raise even more to give our Sunrise campers a summer to remember!”
 
Recognizing the extraordinary financial demands that a child’s chronic illness can have on a family, Sunrise Day Camp and its year-round and in-hospital programs, Sunrise Sundays and Sunrise on Wheels, are provided completely free of charge to campers’ families. Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island proudly serves children with cancer and their siblings from Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and nearby New Jersey on a non-sectarian basis.
 
The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC, which operates Sunrise Day Camp, raises funds for the camp through donations and community events. The Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is a proud member of the Sunrise Association, whose mission is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide.
 
For more information on SunriseWALKS, visit sunrise-walks.org/statenisland