Some people say prayers and some send cookies when they hear of families in their community affected by illness, but not everyone starts a website to raise money.
Wilton residents David Cote and Peter Denious, however, thought to do just that when they heard Lyla Theoharides, a 5-year-old Wilton resident, had been diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a form of pediatric cancer, in March.
Originally, Cote talked to others he had fundraised with about starting a fundraiser for Lyla Theoharides. One of the people he contacted directed him to Jay Scott, co-director of Alex's Lemonade Stand, which also fundraises for childhood cancer, and father of Alex Scott, a girl from Manchester, Conn., who died in 2004 at the age of 8 from neuroblastoma. Alex Scott had started a lemonade stand in 2000 to raise money for pedriatic cancer, and her family has continued raising money for the foundation to this day.
Cote said Jay Scott directed him to YouCaring, a website that offers free online fundraising. Cote then enlisted the help of Denious to handle the financial side of things.
"I found that YouCaring was the best one (website) for us, but I needed someone with a better financial background," Cote said.
Although at first, Cote said, the Theoharides family was hesitant about the fund's existence because their medical insurance has covered all of the costs so far for Lyla Theoharides' treatment, they now have embraced the fund and decided to donate the money to pediatric cancer research.
"People are making a donation to this fund," Cote said. "And the family can do with it what they like, and what they've decided they're going to do is make a research donation in their daughter's name to (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City)."
As of July 1, the Lyla's Fund page has raised $90,426 out of a $125,000 goal.
Denious said the website was the idea of many people, including but not limited to himself and Cote.
"When something like this happens to someone close to you, it is hard to know how to help. This was our ... solution," Denious said in an email.
Cote said the best part has been watching Wilton come together over a common goal.
"It's really neat how this community, the outpouring of community really shines when people (join together like this)," Cote said.
Denious also felt the community's response has been overwhelming.
"It is tremendous, and a real tribute to the Theoharides network of family, friends and business associates. The Wilton community has stepped up way beyond any of our expectations, and for that, we are thankful beyond words," he said.
Phil Theoharides, Lyla's father and a Wilton resident for 10 years, said Wilton's help as a community has been an enormous aid in his family's time of need.
"The community has been truly incredible and not just in fundraising… in taking care of and watching out for my family," Theoharides said in an email June 19. "Lyla has been in the hospital 70 out of the past 93 days since diagnosis and someone from Wilton has helped us each of those days… cooking dinners, walking the dog, driving our children, planting our garden, or sitting with us in the hospital."
He added that other local businesses have also chipped in to raise money, including Arena Hairstyling, the Pizza Truck Company and a few other local businesses that teamed up to host an event that raised more than $25,000.
Phil Theoharides said the biggest reason that the family felt it was important to fundraise is that pediatric cancer can affect anyone from any income level, but that there is not much federal funding available for pediatric cancers. He believes that's part of why Wilton as a community has responded so strongly.
"I think something like this reminds a community like Wilton how truly blessed most of us are and most people, in turn, immediately want to help when they hear about anyone who is suffering," he said.
He also added that his employer, General Electric, will match every dollar that Lyla's Fund raises for Memorial Sloan-Kettering.
Chou Chou and Petite Chou Chou have also contributed their help: 15 percent of sales will be donated to Lyla Theoharides' fund until July 4 if customers mention Lyla at the register.
Check out the Lyla's Fund YouCaring page for more information and to donate.
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