Contributed Photo HOPE DUNNING, AGE 2, feeling comfortable at home with the love and support of her family.

Lumberland Community Comes to Aid of Sick Toddler

By Susan Hallock
YULAN — April 17, 2007 — When a young child is sick, news travels fast and residents rally together to try to help the family and the young child in trouble and that is now underway in the Town of Lumberland.
Tracy and Erin Dunning of Lumberland, have been holding tough and strong for their daughter Hope, age 2, in fighting a battle with cancer.
Recently Hope underwent surgery to remove a tumor that turned out to be cancerous, however, the surgery revealed more cancer and Hope is fighting multiple illnesses.
One of those trying to help the Dunning families is Barbara Hallock, who noted that the community is now planning a spaghetti dinner to help raise funds for the Dunning Family on April 22 at the St. Anthony’s Parish Center, in Yulan.
“Hope is such a sweet young little girl and her family loves her so much. Her mom is always hugging her and they are never far apart,” Hallock said. “For a two-year-old, Hope is very quiet due to the many illnesses she has to battle and face. The family itself is struggling now with the numerous medical bills for all of Hope’s surgeries and treatments since the family has no insurance.”
Hallock went on to add that “The dinner is being sponsored and run by the community and we have a lot of volunteers. At the dinner we will have take outs and we are also looking for baked good donations for a bake sale we are hosting that same night. Those donations can be dropped off at the Parish center the day of the dinner. We are pretty set with the dinner but baked goods would be a big help.”
The dinner will run from 1 to 6 p.m. Cost for adults is $10 and for children, $5 with takeouts available.
There will also be an afghan raffle at the dinner as well. For further information call Barbara Hallock at 557-8272 or Barbara Donnelly at 557-8487.