LYNNFIELD — Resident Lorraine A. Sacco has been honored by the Boston North Cancer Association, Inc. (BNCA) for her outstanding leadership and advocacy on behalf of cancer patients and survivors.
BNCA presented the 2022 Hope Begins Here award to Sacco at the 12th Annual Hope Begins Here awards reception at the Danversport Yacht Club held Thursday. The award recognizes outstanding leadership and advocacy for cancer prevention, education, treatment, and care.
“It’s my honor, really, that BNCA is honoring me,” Sacco said. “But this isn’t an honor about me, it’s an honor for what we are doing. The work that we do with BNCA has come full circle. Together we are really making a difference for people in the community.”
In 2005, Sacco and her husband, Gene, co-founded the Reid R. Sacco Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Alliance in honor of their son Reid Robert Sacco, who died at the age of 20 after a courageous two-year battle with cancer.
An entirely volunteer-based organization, the alliance supports AYA cancer patients and survivors through hospital-based AYA cancer programs. Such programs include AYA-specific specialty and subspecialty medical treatment and care, age-appropriate facilities and settings for AYA treatments, and improving access to clinic trials for AYA patients. BNCA also presented a $2,500 donation to AYA in Sacco’s honor during the ceremony.
Sacco, who serves as executive director of AYA, said that AYA fills a void between pediatric-cancer patients and young adults. Sacco also serves as director of Reid’s Ride, the 28-mile bike ride fundraiser for AYA.
“The pediatric part is a big part of AYA, but the reality was once a child hit the age of 15, there was no organized place to go,” said Sacco. “AYA fills the gap in cancer care and clinicals across the board. The ultimate goal is to have 100 percent survivorship, but these high school and college kids are facing the beginning of their lives. My son never got the opportunity to take part but now AYA has become a place for young adults to go.”
“We are honored to award Lorraine A. Sacco with the Hope Begins Here Award for her outstanding dedication to find better treatments — and someday a cure — for the cancers predominantly striking adolescents and young adults,” said Susan McCarthy, BNCA president.
The reception also recognized five North Shore high-school seniors, each of whom received a $3,500 college scholarship. New this year was the presentation of the first Hall Memorial Scholarship award. Named in memory of former BNCA board member Teri Hall of Lynnfield, the scholarship went to Lynn Classical senior Maggie K. Nerich. Hall died in 2021 after a long, courageous battle with cancer.
Sacco said she felt the evening was a double honor as she was one of Hall’s closest friends.
“I was the first one to welcome Teri and Jon (Dr. Jonathan Hall) to Lynnfield when they moved here,” Sacco said. “She was a dear friend and wonderful person.”
Peabody High student Santina M. Marzino received the Hope Begins Here scholarship, while Swampscott High’s Abigail E. Morse received the David Solimine/BNCA scholarship.
Lynn Classical’s Olivia J. Teague received the Leventhal Scholarship award, named after former BNCA board member Herbert H. Leventhal, MD.
St. John’s Prep senior William C. McEnaney received the Barbuzzi Scholarship award named in memory of BNCA board member Mary Barbuzzi.
Danvers High student Matthew R. Verry received the Lightshed Scholarship award ($1,000), while St. Mary’s Nicholas D. Imonti received the Rising Star Scholarship award ($1,500).
Samantha M. Rizzo, a 2015 graduate of Swampscott High and 2019 graduate of Colby College, received the F. John Bargoot MD Scholarship award ($7,500). Rizzo is a member of the Georgetown University School of Medicine Class of 2024.
Sacco said she is fortunate to have worked with an all-volunteer board for the past 18 years, a group she describes as the “richest people in the world.
“There can be nothing more rewarding than what these people are doing,” she said. “They are giving back the gift of life. They see even deeper into how cancer affects these young people.”
BNCA is a nonprofit that describes its mission as providing funds and supporting special projects for cancer treatment, prevention, education and care in communities north of Boston.
The all-volunteer association is solely funded through private contributions and bequests. Learn more at www.bostonnorthcancer.org.
“I can’t say enough about Boston North,” Sacco said. “If being honored helps to spread the word about what organizations like Boston North are doing, that’s exactly what we want. AYA has changed the course of history because it is giving these young adults consistent care into survivorship. We are giving the next generation a fighting chance to have a full chance at a full life.”
