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Date: 9/21/2016
EAST LONGMEADOW – A benefit dinner and raffle for East Longmeadow native James “Jim” Trase, who was recently diagnosed with stage three pancreatic cancer, is set to take place at the Springfield Elks Lodge on Sept. 25.
Dana Dunn, the sister of Trase’s life partner, JoAnne DeCesare, and a lead organizer of the benefit, told Reminder Publications Trase was diagnosed with cancer on Aug. 15 and funds raised by the event would cover his medical and travel expenses and also serve as a means of financial support while he is out of work as a correctional officer for the Hampden County House of Corrections.
Dana described Trase as a humble and modest person.
She added, “Just the fact that we’re doing this is very overwhelming for him. He’s not the type of person that likes people to fuss or worry about him.”
Allen Dunn, Dana’s husband who is also an organizer for the fundraiser, said Trase grew up in East Longmeadow and was an award winning high school hockey player in his youth. He has worked in corrections for more than 20 years and also coaches lacrosse and hockey.
He added Trase also has three sons – Griffin, a senior at East Longmeadow High School (ELHS), Michael, a freshman at ELHS, and Peter, a college student. All three of his sons have been involved with local sports.
Dana said Trase started his second round of chemotherapy on Sept. 15, which he would continue for the next six months. After that, he has a month to recuperate and strengthen his body before beginning radiation treatment in Boston for five to six weeks.
She said the group of organizers, which also includes her brother Vinnie DeCesare and his wife Meggie, hope to raise “whatever we can.”
She added, “The last thing I want Jim to worry about his finances right now. I want him to be focused on his health and getting better.”
Several local businesses that have donated to help support Trase in his time of need include Gio’s Pizzeria, Great Horse Country Club, and La Cucina di Hampden House, Dana said.
The event will take place starting at 2 p.m. at 440 Tiffany St. in Springfield and will include a dinner consisting of pasta and meatballs, roasted chicken, salad, and homemade Italian desserts.
Dana said some of the large raffle prizes to be featured at the event include a week in Orleans on Cape Cod for the weekend after the Fourth of July 2017, a day of golf for three players at the Country Club in Brookline, and a week at Martha’s Vineyard.
There are more than 100 smaller prizes that would be raffled off as well, she noted.
Tickets are available for purchase at the door, Dana said.
There is also a GoFundMe page set up for Trase, which can be found at www.gofundme.com/2k2ru5yw.