Urban Air Lake Grove Raises $10K For Stony Brook Cancer Center

LAKE GROVE, NY — Urban Air Lake Grove raised more than $10K at the first annual David Wolmetz Memorial Fundraiser on Sunday, the business announced.

The fundraiser honored the late co-founder of the popular indoor adventure park on the first anniversary of his death.

Admission to the park for kids of all ages included access to the most popular attractions including the 30-foot tall Sky Rider zipline, Climbing Walls, Bumper Cars, and more. Local vendors were also on hand for face painting, balloon animals, temporary tattoos and more.

Proceeds from the event will support blood cancer research at the Stony Brook Cancer Center, where Wolmetz received treatment from 2019 to 2023.

"Dave was dedicated to Urban Air Lake Grove and giving back to his community, and he really loved the second family at Stony Brook Cancer Center that took care of him over the last four years," said Keith Handler, co-founder of Urban Air Lake Grove. "Dave was a force of nature. When he set his mind to something you could not stop him. We miss him greatly."

Wolmetz was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in October 2018. He was admitted to Stony Brook Hospital's 19th floor, where his treatment started immediately.

The staff at the cancer center was "wonderful," Urban Air Lake Grove wrote. They treated Wolmetz throughout his cancer journey, the coronavirus, and several hospitalizations over the years because of his compromised immune system. Wolmetz never lost hope and trusted the team at Stony Brook Cancer Care "immensely," the business wrote.

Wolmetz lost his battle on June 9, 2023.

"He loved this place so much," said Carrie Wolmetz, Dave's wife. "Even in the days that he was physically unable to walk around, he would come here. He never gave up. He focused on the positive and the people he was grateful for. The people in his life who meant a lot to him gave him strength."

Donations to Stony Brook Cancer Center can be made here.