Nancy Donnelly knows all about serious. In 2007, she and her husband were devastated to receive the news that their son Zach, the youngest of their three boys, had been diagnosed with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As Zach began chemotherapy and the family pulled together, learning to cope with what Donnelly calls “a new sense of normal” in their lives, she realized the importance of having a support system.
“When this happened to us, my husband and I had no idea what to do,” she says. “We didn’t even know how to ask for anything. Now I know that we could have had a little support here, a little help there.” The former special education teacher became passionate about helping others dealing with the same situation.
Donnelly joined forces with the Community Foundation of Ulster County, a nonprofit organization created to promote philanthropy in the region and to help nonprofits in the county ensure that they’re operating their programs effectively and efficiently. Inspired by the Ryan McElroy Children’s Cancer Foundation, founded by the family of a young boy who lost his life to cancer just shy of his fifth birthday, Donnelly formed For the Love of Zach as a special project of the Community Foundation.
“We’re not a nonprofit yet, but we’re working toward that,” says Donnelly. “The money raised from The Saugerties Wacky Ramble will go into the Community Foundation as a holding tank for me, then I can send the money to an organization such as the McElroy Foundation. I can give them a lump sum and tell them to put it to use as they see fit,” she says.”They’re an established not-for-profit, and they help children with cancer, and their families,” says Donnelly. “They’re amazing. They can do things like help to pay a month’s mortgage for a family that needs that. My goal is to get For the Love of Zach to the point of being like the McElroy Foundation.”
She says that she considered just raising money directly for that foundation, but decided that she wanted to make a more direct impact. “I want people to know I’m here,” she says. “Maybe knowing I’m around, I can help.” She’s taught in the Saugerties school district, and says that she lets them know that if they hear of a family that needs help, she’s available. “I can put my antennae up,” she says. “I may not be able to help personally, but I’ll know people who can,” says Donnelly. “And PTAs are amazing in what they can do,” she continues. “I always say, ‘never underestimate the power of a cupcake!’”
Donnelly is also a jazz singer and songwriter. In 2011, she produced a CD, Lyrics from the Heart. Original songs like “Everyday Angels” and “He’s My Son” offer a message of hope and encouragement to families dealing with a child’s illness. “I was able to do some fundraising and grant writing for the CD through the Community Foundation,” says Donnelly. “Now that the CD is done, I can copy them inexpensively and the money they raise goes right back into making more of them,” says Donnelly. “I have them at hospitals and clinics throughout the country.” She’d like to see them distributed to families at children’s hospitals as a gift while their child is undergoing treatment. The CD is also available online, at www.cdbaby.com/cd/nancydonnelly, where samples of each song can be heard.
Zach is doing well now, Donnelly reports, and done with chemotherapy, although he still has to be monitored. “We’re in very good shape right now,” she says. Still, there are many families out there who need the support. “That’s why I’m so passionate about getting some funding,” says Donnelly.
The Saugerties Wacky Ramble will be on Sunday, May 6th, with a rain date of Saturday, May 12. Teams will meet up at the Saugerties Performing Arts Factory (SPAF) on Ulster Avenue in the village @ 12:30 p.m. The ramble begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. with refreshments at an after-party at SPAF. The sign-up fee for a team is $50, with proceeds to benefit For the Love of Zach. Teams can travel by car or by foot. Pre-registration is encouraged, and can be done online at www.lyricsfromtheheart.com. Donnelly says they hope to offer prizes for best costumes and the most points, but as of press time, sponsorship for prizes is uncertain.
The “wacky list” of participating merchants where stunts and games will be held includes Tango Cafe, Rock Star Rodeo, Main Street Restaurant, Mirabella, Town and Country Liquors, Lucky Chocolates, Starway Cafe, the Kiersted House, W. Couture, Revolutionary Bicycles, Lox of Bagels, IXL Gym, Dollar General, The Reformed Church, Sawyer Motors, SPCA Thrift Store, Partition St. Wine Shop, Price Chopper, the Renwick Clifton House, Grist Mill Real Estate, Dave’s Coffee House, and the Brine Barrel.
The inspiration for the Wacky Ramble came in part from Saugerties’ reputation for enjoying off-the-wall amusements. “I was thinking about ‘Cruella’ [Jamie] Moxham and her zombie crawl, which is so fun and so out-of-the-box, and looking at the bed races, and just thought, ‘you know, we can raise money and have fun just enjoying ourselves,’” says Donnelly. “I was looking online at stuff about pub crawls in little towns in England, and said, ‘we could do something like that but we don’t need to drink, we need to have fun and spend time with our kids, just walking and talking and laughing.’”
“And that’s the whole point,” she continues. “It may not be for everyone. But it’s about the bonding,” says Donnelly. “We all need a break, and it’s ok to be silly. It’s important to be silly sometimes. It’s about taking the time to create some fun memories for yourself and your family.”
For more information, visit www.wackyramble.eventbrite.com or www.lyricsfromtheheart.com.
