by Laura Lane
But time has not eased the pain for Butterweich. She remains devastated by the early death of her friend, who was only 29.
Butterweich has had other cancer-related losses, too. Her uncle died of cancer, as did Gitlitz's mother -- a year after her daughter's death. Butterweich¹s aunt is currently battling leukemia.
A lifelong resident of Salisbury, Butterweich refuses to sit by and watch others suffer without doing something to help. In the last three years, she has raised over $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and she doesn't plan to let up anytime soon.
The 27-year-old is currently training for her next two challenges, a May "Hike for Discovery" in the Grand Canyon and the TOBAY Triathlon in Oyster Bay in August. The money she is required to raise -- $6,500, to be exact -- will be used by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to support research to find a cure.
Butterweich is passionate about participating in these events, and has been training diligently, seven days a week, for months. Athletic, intelligent and articulate, she seems well suited to the challenge. Yet attracting financial support hasn't been easy. "I haven't been able to get any corporate sponsorship so far," said Butterweich. "I'm running out of time, which means I'll be going door to door soon. I have to have half of the money by April 3, and I'm very short."
It's hard to imagine where she'll find the time to go door to door. Butterweich works full-time as a special education teacher in the Levittown School district. She can be found each morning at 5 a.m. at the gym, working out before school, and on weekends she trains for hours with professional trainers hired by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Butterweich and believes she'll be able to pull the money together in time. She can't forget Gitlitz's battle, and often speaks to her aunt. Butterweich's commitment to help find a cure for cancer is too strong for her to worry or give up.
"Just to think about what Heather went through for five years, and I'm her age now," said Butterweich. "I have a lot of motivation, and I plan to keep doing this forever. In doing this, I know that I'm doing something for a good cause, and I'm helping to support my aunt. It means a lot to her that I'm doing it."
How to help
To help victims of leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and Hodgkin's disease, send a check payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to Melissa Sue Butterweich, 134 Friends Lane, Westbury, N.Y. 11590, or call Butterweich at (516) 697-6664. Eighty-five percent of all donations are used for patient aid, research, professional education and community outreach.
