Glasses clink, filled with lemon-drop martinis. Hors d’oeuvres are passed to guests in yellow. Everyone has come to celebrate a man they loved. Family, friends, business colleagues, all gathered in memory of Rick Vivacqua and to raise funds to fight the disease he battled so hard.
When Rick was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2003, he and his family were relieved to have Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center so close to home – one of only four places specializing in sarcoma in New York State.
Rick lived with sarcoma for another 12 years, undergoing multiple surgeries and participating in a number of clinical trials. In December 2015, he lost his long battle with the disease.
“My dad was such an amazing guy. We were so lucky to have him,” says his daughter Cate. “And sarcoma is so rare that we were lucky to have him for 12 years after his diagnosis.”
Back in July 2015, inspired by her father’s battle and in recognition of Sarcoma Awareness Month, Cate hosted her first Team Roswell fundraising event to benefit Roswell Park. She called the happy hour celebration event Sip Away Sarcoma. Rick was able to attend and was overwhelmed with love from so many people he cared about.
After Rick passed away later that year, Cate, her mother Mary Kate and her brother Daniel wanted to continue celebrating him and his life while also financially supporting sarcoma research and patients.
The family established The Richard J. Vivacqua Endowed Fund for Sarcoma Research.
Cate and Mary Kate Vivacqua with Dr. John Kane III at Sip Away Sarcoma.“We wanted to help the families that are going through what we went through,” says Mary Kate.
“It seemed the most logical option,” Cate says. “It was one way we could have my dad’s life legacy live on and be able to help Roswell Park, who helped us so much.”
To date, Sip Away Sarcoma and other donations have contributed over $100,000 toward the endowment.
Cate and Mary Kate Vivacqua presenting a check for $100,000 to Dr. John Kane III at Roswell Park. Since 2015, Mary Kate and Cate have vigorously raised funds for the Richard J. Vivacqua Endowment for Sarcoma Research.Cate wants anyone considering hosting a Team Roswell event like Sip Away Sarcoma to know that when you plan a Team Roswell event, you are helping others who have been affected by the same disease that your family has been affected by.
Join Team Roswell and show your support at Sip Away Sarcoma 2018 on Thursday, July 26th from 6-9 pm at Acqua Restaurant in Buffalo.