Fund Formed to Help Twin Tiers Young People With Cancer

Sean Shumaker loved the color lime green.  His family and friends wanted to buy him a lime green Camaro but never got to realize the dream before Sean lost his battle with brain cancer just short of his 21st birthday. Sean had previously survived a battle with leukemia, diagnosed when he was eight.Speaking on the February 23rd edition of the local public affairs program, Southern Tier Close Up, Sean's mother, Beth Shumaker and friend, Linda Salomons, whose own child has battled leukemia, talked about how they set up a local support group for families with children fighting cancer since they had found no network was in place locally when they were dealing with a young family member with the disease.

The women also announced the formation of Sean's Standing Strong Memorial Fund that will assist young people affected by cancer, providing financial assistance toward educational pursuits or participation in recreational activities.

The memorial fund is being set up with proceeds from a car raffle. In honor of Sean, the car being given away at Botnick Chevrolet in Binghamton is a lime green, Special Edition Synergy Chevy Camero.

300 tickets for the car will be sold at $150 each through March 30th. Tickets can be purchased at the dealership at 179 Front street or by calling (607) 222-9341.

You can hear more details about the cancer support group, Sean's legacy and the courage of families dealing with cancer on the Southern Tier Close Up, Saturday at 12:10 p.m. on News Radio 1290 WNBF.