A Montreal man who lost his mother to cancer has raised more than $200,000 for other families.
Anthony Pacella said helping kids on their cancer journey is his goal.
Mary Milello Pacella died at 52 and her son Anthony has been fundraising ever since, for 13 years.
“She passed away in January 2011, so I was 15,” he said. “Six months prior to that, so August of 2010, she was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and she never smoked.”
Before she died, Anthony made her a promise.
“Before her passing, I wanted to do something where for the rest of my life I could just live in her legacy and her honour, which is how StrikeOut Cancer came to be,” said Anthony.
The StrikeOut Cancer Foundation started with big, fun bowling events benefitting The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“Meeting more families and more kids that go through cancer, that’s just what I love to do,” said Anthony.
“Anthony has just been instrumental in bringing together the Montreal community,” said Lauren Donnelly from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “He hosts events a bit all over the place, so he’s helping us spread the good word, reach new partners and really spread the beautiful impact the foundation has.”
The StrikeOut Cancer Foundation also supports The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – which named him a “visionary” of 2024.
Anthony is proud of that and hopes Mom is too.
“Sometimes I don’t even realize how far maybe I’ve taken it just because it’s always been about her,” he said.