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'Soupy for Loopy' Fundraiser just around the corner

Date: 10/10/2012

By Carley Dangona

carley@thereminder.com

WESTFIELD — On Oct. 12 at the Tekoa Country Club in Westfield, the Soupy for Loopy Foundation Inc., will host its seventh annual fundraiser for neuroblastoma, a children's cancer, and is conducted in honor of Laura Sypek.

"We have 144 golfers signed up," Sandra Kosko, Sypek's aunt and president and director of Soupy for Loopy, said. "Nearly 300 people will attend the event."

The event features a golf tournament, raffle and Sypek's favorite meal, tomato soup and elbow macaroni. She passed away from the disease in June 2006. This year marks what would have been her eighteenth birthday.

The event is peppered with details reminiscent of Sypek, from the purple balloons launched at the shotgun start to the goodie bags that have lottery scratch tickets — all of these were things she liked.

With the assistance of their sponsors, the foundation hopes to contribute another significant donation within the year. "To date, we've given away $100,000," Kosko added. "We hope to donate another $50,000."

Kosko explained the importance of research for this type of cancer, "A greater understanding is needed of the tumor makeup of neuroblastoma so that better treatment options can be made available. There's not a one-size-fits all solution to this cancer. Some children respond to treatment and others don't. Unfortunately scientists still don't know why it [this type of cancer] occurs."

Kosko said, "We have an annual fundraiser to celebrate her life, her courage. We think of her every day. Hopefully we can help someone else."

For more information about the event and its foundation, go to www.soupyforloopy.org.