Community Corner

Holiday Lights Shine in Daughter's Memory

Light display continues through Tuesday on Sunnyvale Road in Port Washington.

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Adina Genn, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

Christmas and New Years may be behind us, but the holiday lights shine on through Tuesday on Sunnyvale Road in Port Washington.

That’s the home of Bob Young and his family, who turn their residence into an attraction every year at this time.

“The holiday season [has] always been a very special time for our family,” Young wrote in an email.

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“Decorating the house and our Christmas tree was something we looked forward to every Christmas season,” he added. “It was something we did together as a family, and helped us stay close throughout the years.”

The lights dazzled in 2013, even though it was the year the family lost their daughter, Marie Ashton.

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“Christmas was her favorite time of year, and in her memory, we started a foundation to help teens and young adults suffering from eating disorders and other addictive behaviors, that take the lives of far too many young people every year,” Young noted.

“Decorating our house these past two Christmas’s in her memory has helped us get through this time of year, and has enabled us to create awareness of the disorder that took our daughter’s life,” he added.

The family has since created the Marie Ashton Young-Erturun foundation, whose mission is to ceate awareness of eating disorders, provide support for those suffering from them, and assist those who can’t afford treatment, get treatment.

“In the past year, through our Christmas light displays and other educational programs we have been involved in, we have been successful in increasing the awareness of how these disorders can impact the health and lives of young people, Young said.

Just recently, someone left a note for the Youngs, thanking them for sharing Marie’s story. The note reminded the family that their efforts to raise awareness about eating disorders would save another’s life.

Young said the family this year will collaborate with Project Heal to help pay for treatment for eating disorders to those who can’t afford it.

“This year, we are pledging a portion of our donations to this program, which provides direct financial support to those needing treatment,” he said.

And while in the past year the Youngs have received support from parents who have suffered similar pain, the family continues to look forward.

“In the next year, through Marie’s Foundation, we will begin providing the emotional support to those suffering and their families, to help avert the tragedy we experienced,” Young said.

See a YouTube video of the display.

Contributions may be sent to:

The Marie Ashton Young-Erturun Foundation
9 Sunnyvale Rd.
Port Washington, New York 11050

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