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PITTSTON — More than 100 friends, family and neighbors showed up to support the fourth annual Cooley’s Anemia Care Walk at St. Joseph Marello Parish on Sunday.
The event focuses on finding a cure for thalassemia, a rare genetic blood disorder that produces less hemoglobin and red blood cells, requiring patients to have blood transfusions on a regular basis and battle varying side effects that range from fatigue to abnormal growth. Thalassemia is chronic, currently has no cure and can occur at any age.
Kristy DeRome-Gomberg, a Pittston native and thalassemia patient, has been organizing the annual event since its implementation, hoping to raise local awareness of the disease.
“Thalassemia is an inherited disease,” she said. “I was diagnosed at 3 months old. My parents were told I wouldn’t live past my teens.”
Aside from thalassemia, DeRome-Gomberg said she also battles with Lyme disease, which she contracted through one of her transfusions.
“You can’t test for Lyme disease like you can with HIV or AIDS,” she explained. “It affects me 10 times worse than a normal, healthy person since I already have a compromised immune system.”
Now 38, DeRome-Gomberg heads the local chapter of the national organization, concentrating most of her free time trying to educate the public on the disease and working to help find a cure.
“It started off as something so simple,” she said, thinking back to the first event. “Now, we try to up the goal every year. The first year we were happy to make $1,000 in donations, this year we’re hoping for $4,000.”
Almost every table inside the church hall was filled, with patrons enjoying an array of food, activities and raffles. Flat Land Ruckus provided live music, prompting children to dance in front of the band, with their newly made balloon animals in hand.
A photo booth was donated for the event from 570 Photo Booth, allowing children the chance to have their pictures taken with all types of superheros. Spiderman and Superwoman were on hand, and Elsa and Anna from Disney’s “Frozen” had children smiling from ear to ear.
More than 85 basket donations were available to win, with contents ranging from food to makeup and kid’s items to clothing. Aside from basket raffles, guests could win tickets to see the Dixie Chicks, as well as two Pennsylvania Lottery frames, each one filled with scratch-off tickets.
One hundred percent of proceeds go to finding a cure for thalassemia, DeRome-Gomberg said.
Kristy’s mother, Mary DeRome, said she couldn’t be more proud of her daughter’s efforts to raise awareness of the disease.
“We’re so proud of her,” DeRome said. “She’s organized this whole thing for the last four years. The foundation has done so much for her, she just wanted to give back.”
