Sunshine Children’s Home Staff Will Make Strides Against Breast Cancer

From Team Sunshine:

OSSINING, NY – The culture of caring that’s integral to the work of Sunshine Children’s Home and Rehab Center in Ossining doesn’t stop at the end of the workday: When the staff at Sunshine, a unique residential nursing facility for children with complex medical needs, learned that a member of their nursing team was diagnosed with breast cancer, they rallied around her with a touching show of support and solidarity.

MariCris Nee, RN, CPN, MEd, is the Director of Infection Control and Education Services at Sunshine. When MariCris received the unnerving news of her diagnosis last January, her friends at Sunshine had her back -- in a big way. They formed Team Sunshine, and committed to raise funds and help save lives through a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. The team will walk on October 16 at Woodbury Commons.

“At Sunshine, we’ve always been more than coworkers -- we’re family,” says MariCris, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Nursing at S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook and a Master’s degree in Special Education - Intensive Needs from Lesley College.

MariCris, joined the team as a staff nurse in 2003, and grew close with her Sunshine family as she rose through the ranks, holding positions such as manager, assistant director and director over the years before becoming Director of Infection Control and Education Services.“Even after 13 years of supporting one another through personal and professional challenges, it is very moving to find myself on the receiving end of such an incredible display of support.”

Team Sunshine’s efforts will make a big impact: Funds raised through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer support the American Cancer Society in its endeavors to save and improve lives at every step, from prevention, to early detection, to new treatments to supporting patients in their recovery.

Click here to donate to Team Sunshine.

Image via Team Sunshine.