Huntington To Light Tree Gold For Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month

HUNTINGTON, NY — The Town of Huntington is set to go gold with a tree lighting on Friday for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month in September.

Supervisor Ed Smyth will be joined by Town officials, members of the Daniela Conte Foundation and families struck by the loss of a child to cancer, to recognize those children and their families who suffer from cancer every day and to continue to raise awareness for others with pediatric cancer.

The ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday at Huntington Town Hall, at Veterans Plaza, at 100 Main St., Huntington.

Daniela Marie Conte 8 years old when she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. She battled this disease bravely for years before her death in March 2020. Her parents, Anthony and Katia Conte, knew that Daniela was the joy of their lives, and they wanted to share her light with everyone else, the town stated.

"Because of Daniela’s courage, her parents created the not-for-profit organization, the Daniela Conte Foundation, to not only remember their daughter, but to also provide financial assistance to families of pediatric cancer patients and fund Rhabdomyosarcoma research to help find a cure," the town wrote.

Click here to read a Q&A with the Daniela Conte Foundation.