Helping hands keep giving to cancer survivors

When her mother died in 2002 after an initial breast-cancer diagnosis, Mary Lee knew she could turn to friend and Sin City Cycles owner Greg Domey to raise money to help cancer survivors.?We?ve always got a jar on the counter to help someone,” Domey said.Working with local hairdresser Donna Russo and other friends, Lee and Domey organized a Halloween Night breast-cancer-awareness ball that packed St. Michael?s Hall in Lynn and pushed donations past the $18,000 mark.As successful as it turned out to be, Lee said the West Lynn event is a starting point – not a one-time opportunity – for people to not only join the fight against breast cancer, but to also ensure survivors get money to help them pay transportation costs, medical bills and other expenses.?We?re actually giving money to people as they need it, and there?s 100-percent total accountability,” Domey said.With Russo and Lee?s help, he is continuing to sell donation advertisements in a cancer- awareness booklet Domey dubbed “the pink pages,” and contributions are also being accepted in an account set up at Eastern Bank?s Saugus branch.Michele Geloso of Gloucester said Domey and his friends have made a difference in her life. She has undergone 12 surgeries during the last two years and sustained “a multitude of complications” related to cancer.?Cancer has left me bankrupt and disfigured, but I don?t think about that – I think about the people I can help. I thought was strong before cancer; this had made me so much stronger,” Geloso said.Lee, a Saugus resident, said it was easy to make a connection with Domey and Russo when she searched for a way to help other people after her mother?s death. She knew Domey had helped raise almost $12,000 to help wounded veterans and Russo frequently shaved the heads of cancer survivors enduring hair loss as their treatment progressed.Domey dove into studying cancer research and statistics and found he could not turn away from the grim statistics underscoring breast cancer.?I learned 40,000 women will die this year – that?s one woman every 15 minutes. I just wanted to do something good,” he said.Working with Lee and Russo, he started knocking on doors and calling people to ask for donations to the pink pages even as the trio organized the Halloween ball. He also took to social media to write nightly about his breast-cancer education and experiences talking to people who have lived through cancer and lost loved ones.?The stories are compelling. They helped me overcome awkwardness when it came to asking for money,” Domey said.With the help of fellow volunteer Lisa Foley, Lee, Russo and Domey reached out to friends and family to attend the ball and recognize cancer survivors who needed their help.?St. Michael?s holds 300 people, and there were no empty seats. People kept coming and going all night long – there was a tremendous vibe in that room,” Domey said.Even as they continue to help Geloso and other people battling cancer, Domey, Lee and Russo are organizing a toy collection for needy children that will include a gift-wrapping gathering.?We will make sure kids have Christmas,” Domey said.