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Community Corner

Windham Terrace Assisted Living Honors Fight 2 Finish Cancer and Volunteer with Senior Service Award

It’s no surprise 66-year-old Judy Newcomb is an active volunteer in Windham, in particular with Fight 2 Finish Cancer. As a cancer survivor, she feels it’s important to show her gratitude for good health and support from her friends and family by making a difference for others. Because of Newcomb’s commitment to giving back to the community through her volunteerism and positivity, Windham Terrace Assisted Living is presenting her with this year’s Senior Service Award. Fight 2 Finish Cancer and Newcomb are each being awarded a $500 gift from Windham Terrace Assisted Living as part of the award, which Newcomb plans to donate back to the team. Windham Terrace Assisted Living will present the $1,000 check to Fight 2 Finish Cancer during a special ceremony on Tuesday, July 8 at 2:30 p.m.

 

Lynda Brislin, executive director at Windham Terrace Assisted Living, says Newcomb is the perfect person to recognize with this award. “This award is our way to thank Judy for her countless hours of generous service to our community. She teaches us all how important it is to give back and make a difference. In addition, we truly believe in the work she and the rest of the Fight 2 Finish Cancer members are doing to help families in Windham and New Hampshire.  We want them all to know how much we appreciate their dedication and selflessness.”

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“It’s an honor to be receiving the Windham Terrace Assisted Living Senior Service Award,” said Newcomb, who worked as a first grade teacher in the area for 35 years. “I will certainly accept this award on behalf of all of our volunteers – this is not all about me. It’s about our cause and helping those who are currently battling cancer through raising funds for research.”

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Fight 2 Finish Cancer is a team of 20 educators and instructional assistants in Windham who raise money for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life and fundraising events, such as a local road race and comedy nights. The group was organized nine years ago by team co-captains Kim Chaffee and B.J. Martin when Chaffee’s brother-in-law was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 31. Over the years, the team has had to add names to its list of reasons why they do what they do, including former students and a colleague’s 5-year-old son. Fight 2 Finish Cancer has become one of the top fundraisers for Relay for Life in New Hampshire and has raised approximately $100,000 since its inception.

 

“We feel like everyone has been touched by cancer in some way,” said Chaffee. “Cancer knows no boundaries and that’s what makes it so scary. Through our work, we feel like we are helping everyone.”

 

Newcomb says getting involved with this organization was important because she could provide comfort, inspiration, hope and support to those who are going through a battle similar to the one she fought four years ago with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. “I am thankful for all the support I had when fighting my battle,” said Newcomb. “We are all in this together, and it’s important for those who are currently fighting to know they have an army of people supporting them.”

 

Chaffee says she can’t think of anyone who deserves this award more than Newcomb. “She is the first one to offer her help or to ask how she can assist in any way,” said Chaffee. “She is an incredibly dedicated, kind person. I just love her.”

 

Newcomb’s advice to those who are currently battling cancer is to stay positive. “Have hope,” said Newcomb. “This is just a bump in the road. Have faith and keep moving forward.”

 

The Windham Terrace Assisted Living Senior Service Award was started in 2012 to recognize a local nonprofit and one of its active adult volunteers who is 62 or above for their good work in the community. For the award, a cash gift is given during a recognition ceremony at Windham Terrace Assisted Living. In addition, the volunteer receives an engraved Tiffany platter.  This year’s ceremony will take place on Tuesday, July 8 at 2:30 p.m.  Members of the group Fight 2 Finish Cancer will attend along with volunteer Judy Newcomb and organizers Kim Chaffee and B.J. Martin. 

 

ABOUT WINDHAM TERRACE ASSISTED LIVING

Windham Terrace is the premiere assisted living community located in the quaint town of Windham, New Hampshire, close to many shops, restaurants, and services. Located just north of the Massachusetts border, it is a short drive from the greater Boston area. Medical care and physician care is easily accessible with the four area medical centers located within five to ten miles. Windham Terrace offers supplemental nursing care as well, which stands the community apart from assisted living communities in Massachusetts due to state restrictions. For more information, please see Windham Terraces web pages located at www.terracecommunities.net

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