Get Your Gold On

Tracey Bogush is the mother of three boys in the Three Village Community, she   currently sits on the board of the Nassakeag PTA, and is the Treasurer for the Three Village Swim Club – all of this and she also works a full-time job. 

Two years ago, her family was introduced to The Sunrise Fund through The Bench 5K Walk/Fun Run. The Sunrise Fund supports the Pediatric Oncology Department within the newly established . The only source of funding for the Sunrise Fund is through the efforts of local fundraisers. This year, she thought it would be wonderful if we could continue to raise community awareness of The Sunrise Fund through a Shoelace Fundraiser in our schools.

Gold shoelaces – gold is the color used in childhood cancer awareness – are being sold for $4 per pair in all Three Village schools, and many other local organizations are getting involved.

"When you think of attire staples among our students, blue jeans immediately come to mind. And sneakers, which require shoelaces," Bogush said.

Bogush feels that community is a precious concept to be cherished. "I feel that instilling, in our children, both awareness and the responsibilities of being part of a community is extremely important," she said.

In the junior high schools and elementary schools, Bogush said that, with the support of the Student Governments and the PTA, they have had much success selling the shoelaces. More importantly, children have learned what other children are going through fighting cancer. Bogush would like to get the fundraiser in the high school, but she has faced some challenges with the older children getting involved.  

Many local sports teams have also joined the effort and are getting their gold on the field. A coach for the seventh- and eighth-grade boys lacrosse team at Gelinas Middle School bought laces for everyone on the roster. The team will will wear the laces throughout the month of May to show its support and raise awareness for the cause.  A local father also purchased laces for his child's third- and fourth-grade lacrosse team in memory of a child that lost her battle to cancer.

All of the money raised will go directly to the Sunrise Fund. According to its website, the Sunrise Fund supports a number of special programs and is the only pediatric oncology program on Long Island that is tied directly to a major research university. These programs include Our Little Heroes Support Network, the School Reentry Program, Living in Love and Play Fit-Stay Fit!.

Raymond F. McKenna, a professor at Stony Brook University, director of Play Fit Stay Fit! and the race director for the Bench 5K, applauds Bogush's efforts in putting together the Get Your Gold On! fundraiser. He cites the raising of more than $1,200 for last year's Bench 5K, which directly supports the Play Fit Stay Fit! program. To date, in excess of 700 pairs of shoelaces have been sold, raising more than $2,500 for the charitable organizations.

Her importance can be felt much more than in a monetary sense.

"More importantly, this sale has been huge in raising awareness about childhood cancer," McKenna said. "Knowing that the gold ribbon represents childhood cancer awareness, it was Tracey’s great idea to sell the laces in schools and to local youth sports teams. Now, every time these children tie their sneakers or cleats, they are reminded that there are children struggling with cancer and that they made a small contribution to helping these children by purchasing and wearing the laces."

To get involved with the Get Your Gold On! fundraiser, you can contact Tracey Bogush at tracey@bnfcontractors.com or 675-0795. You can also support the Sunrise Fund by joining them at the Bench 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, May 7.