Community members rally for Brielle


Lauren Gagner Reminder submitted photo

Editor's Note: A typing error in last week's Reminder showed the wrong price for a sticker on Lauren Gagner's car to benefit cancer research. The correct cost is $5 per sticker. For more information on sponsoring Gagner's car, call 478-3691 or 525-0704.

By Sarah M. Corigliano

Assistant Managing Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW Town resident Ed Moses recently completed, along with some family and friends, a state-wide bike ride in honor of his niece, Brielle Laplante.

"Brielle's Brigade," biked from Stockbridge to Sturbridge Aug. 11, then from Sturbridge to Provincetown that weekend as part of the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, a bike ride that benefits The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through The Jimmy Fund.

Donning jerseys designed by the team's seven-year-old namesake, Moses said it was an emotional ride. His niece, Brielle, has been battling leukemia and recently received a bone marrow transplant her little sister Jaclyn was the donor.

Once on the road, Moses said the team had a chance to meet up with Brielle and Jaclyn during their ride.

"We met up with Brielle in Rock Harbor," he said. "It was very emotional and very special for the team."

Moses said Brielle and Jaclyn rode their bikes for a bit with the team and Brielle asked "Can we do that again?"

The team rode a total of 310 miles and raised almost $30,000 more than their goal.

"The community has been unbelieveable," in its support of Brielle and her brigade of bicyclists, Moses said. "People have been very eager to support the team."

From initial fund-raisers of a cocktail party and a silent auction, and sales of advertising on their jerseys, plus a car wash and other donations, the team raised over $70,000, 100 percent of which goes to The Jimmy Fund. At press time, Moses said donations were still coming in.

Other members of Brielle's Brigade included East Longmeadow residents Glen Witwer, Paul Cicco and Jill Tedeschi; Simsbury, Conn. resident Jim Creighton; Brielle's aunt Marie Laplante from Texas, and Mike McLaughlin.

A Wing for Brielle

After purchasing a lavender wristband from a good friend, with 'Brielle's Brigade' on it to support cancer research and treatment in honor of seven-year-old town resident Brielle Laplante, another East Longmeadow youth, Lauren Gagner, said she wished she could do something to help. Lauren races in the Wild Thing Kart Series, Outlaw division at Stafford Motor Speedway, on Monday nights, in Stafford Springs Connecticut. Her kart is the Maybury Material Handling-sponsored #4.

Lauren's uncle, Wade Gagner, builds the karts and runs the racing series. She asked if there was anything she could do through her racing to help Brielle, and a fund-raiser began. Lauren put a new wing on her car that is lavender, which is Brielle's favorite color, and is selling butterfly stickers for a minimum donation of $5.

Donors can write their name on the sticker to decorate the wing. Lauren's plan is to raise more awareness about cancer, and all funds will be donated to cancer research in Brielle's honor. She hopes to fill the whole car and donate the wing to Brielle after the race season is over. When the wing is full, she will also start on the body panels of the car, hoping to turn the entire kart lavender, covered with butterfly stickers.

The race kart will be set up around town during the months of August and September and there will be a special night of fund-raising at Stafford Motor Speedway on Aug. 21, when Wild Thing Kart Series presents their family fun night. Practice starts at 5 p.m., with racing starting at 7 p.m. For more information visit the web site www.wildthingkarts.com.