Cancer is always a life changer. For Lisa Morahan, her 2009 diagnosis of stage-threebreast cancer ended up being a precursor to helping others.
Now, Morahan is running her own group, Floyd Warriors, dedicated to helping those who are going through what she did. This time of year, she is focused on Project Easter Bunny, which will provide families with a parent who’s battling cancer with Easter baskets for their children.
The idea started from her own experience. When she was in treatment and without enough energy to give her son an Easter basket.
“That first year I was in the midst of chemotherapy in April, my son Caden was one-and-a-half at the time. I promised him then that next year I would make it up to him,” she said.
Through what was Gilda’s Club, and now called the Hope Club, Morahan initiated Project Easter Bunny by putting out a box for donations there and other places throughout the Capital District, including Glens Falls Hospital, to collect what would be needed for baskets. She more than succeeded in making up that Easter to her son.
“That first year, we collected enough candy, gifts andeverything else you could think of that goes into an Easter basket for 100 baskets and in 2011, 135 baskets were made. There was such a good response and the baskets serve as a living expression of Easter,” she said.
Project Easter Bunny is now in its third year, and Morahan hopes it will be the biggest yet.
Alana Streifert, manager and coordinator of children and family programs with The American Cancer Society and the Hope Club, has known Morahan for a few years and has helped her network within countless local communities.
“Lisa approached me about Floyd Warriors and a variety of ways she could help and support families,” said Streifer.
“It’s quite amazing to see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they get the baskets, and the relief and smiles on the parents’ faces. Itreally makes a world of difference. At The Hope Club we distributed 20 baskets last year. … Lisa has just a wonderful way about her. She’s got such a positive attitude and she just oozes a genuineness and enthusiasm,” she added.
Many support groups exist for cancer patients. What Morahan doest hrough Floyd Warriors provides support in a bit of a different way. Those things that don’t get done if a parent is too tired — like the dishes, cleaning,laundry and cooking — can be major obstacles when cancer is involved. That’s where Floyd Warriors comes in, providing resources and networking to help families when it comes to those day-to-day things that need to get done. She named the organization in reference to the band Pink Floyd, whose album “The Wall” she equates to the battle people fight against cancer.
Project Easter Bunny is but one of the many services that Morahan and her organization networks to provide. She also works to have meals delivered to families and with Simplifying Lives, which offers house cleaning.Everything she does centers around her mission statement, which is “Dinner isDone, Dishes are Clean and the Kids are OK!”
“What Lisa provides is a compliment to the medical care. It’s holistic, not just about the body, but what the spirit needs as well,” said Streifert.
Recipients of baskets this year include The CR Wood Center atGlens Falls Hospital, The Mollie Wilmott Radiation Oncology Center at Saratoga Hospital, The Community Hospice of Saratoga, The Hope Club in Latham, New YorkOncology Hematology of Albany and CRAAB, To Life!
To donate or help with Project Easter Bunny, bring unopened candy and brand new small toys to donate to the following locations between March 12 and 26: The CR Wood Center in Glens Falls Hospital, G.Willikers Toys in Saratoga, The Paddocks of Saratoga, The YMCA of West Ave in Saratoga (no candy at this location, only healthy treats), The Malta Community Center, Bella Rouge at Clifton Park Center and The Hope Club in Latham. For additional information visit: www.floydwarriors.com or call 429-0461.
