COAL TOWNSHIP - An afternoon of four-wheeling around the woods Labor Day weekend will help a Paxinos resident who battling throat cancer.
A special poker run through the third patch of Bear Valley Avenue and other areas on Saturday, Sept. 3, will raise money for Mary Rizzo, of Paxinos, who was diagnosed with Stage II throat cancer on June 14.
"As long as anyone has known me, I've always had issues with my throat and voice," Rizzo said.
Doctors originally diagnosed it as acid reflux disease. After she had a sore throat for six months, Rizzo implored them to do further tests, and the cancer was discovered.
"It is worse than they initially thought, so I'm currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation," she said. "Hopefully, that will take care of it and we won't have to do surgery."
One of her best friends, Reena Shingara, of Marion Heights, decided to help Rizzo with her medical bills and the expense of going back and forth to Geisinger Medical Center.
"I've always looked up to her because we both ran out here on the mountain, she was always the coolest chick with the biggest truck," Shingara said. "We became friends, and I want to do this for her."
Knowing that poker runs are a good way to make money, Shingara began organizing the event. The four-mile course, starting at the Shamokin Flats at the Third Patch and winding past the Whaleback, will have three checkpoints where drivers will draw cards for a poker hand.
At the end of the run, at Smurf's Pond, the final card will be drawn, and prizes will be awarded for the best and worst hands.
Shingara said the course is not too treacherous.
"Anyone with a stock vehicle and a little common sense will be just fine," she said. "Just watch the ruts."
There will also be a huge raffle that day with many local businesses and individuals donating prizes.
"We have a ton of pizza to give away, several different baskets, a Yuengling grill, a free alignment and more prizes coming in every day," Shingara said.
Shingara praised the work of students Sierra Smeltzer, Ashley Carl and Renea Broscious, who are helping with the poker run as part of their senior project.
In addition, there will be commemorative can cozies and T-shirts available for purchase.
The amount of caring and participation just amazes Rizzo.
"It's so overwhelming," she says. "You never know how people truly feel until you need them and I've realized how many people really care about me. There's no way I can show them how much they mean to me."
The run starts at 11 a.m. It costs $10 to participate, with food at the end, and $15 for food and beverages. Anyone who wishes to donate or purchase a T-shirt ahead of time can contact Shingara at 274-4243 or through a search on Facebook.