mesothelioma

Posted by Elizabeth Doran / The Post-Standard

Megan Shore glances away as Mark Bailey of Tully thanks those in attendance at last May's benefit lacrosse game held in honor of his wife, Patricia Bailey. This year's event will be held May 21, and will again raise money for breast-cancer research in Patricia Bailey's name. She died last May after a two-year battle with cancer.

 

This year's game will be at 7 p.m. May 21 at Tully High School, and is sponsored in partnership with the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of Central New York.

Tully will host Bishop Ludden in the game, and all proceeds from ticket sales, a chicken barbecue, concession sales, raffles, T-shirt sales and more will go to the fund. All the lacrosse teams from New York State High School's Section Three have been invited to attend.

All the Tully girls will wear donated pink jerseys at the event to signal their support for the cause. Syracuse University Girls' Lacrosse players are scheduled to be on hand for autographs and additional events throughout the evening. The total raised for this event will be announced at half-time of the game.

 

A $50,000 research grant has been established by the Baldwin foundation in Bailey's name, said Beth Baldwin, the group's executive director.

Mark Bailey, Pat's husband, said he's overwhelmed at all the support.

"There's an awful lot of emotion that goes into all this," said Bailey, whose wife was just 48 when she died after a two-year battle with the disease. "It's amazing how this whole small community has come together for this."

It's been a difficult year for the Baileys, but Bailey's daughter Taylor, 16; and Jenna, 12, are keeping busy with soccer, softball, dance and more.

"The girls are a source of strength to me," he said, "and we have a really close family. Five of the six siblings in Pat's family live in the Tully area."

Baldwin said Tully has united to fight this disease, spurred on by Bailey's untimely death." What happened last year with Pat Bailey dying the same day as the fundraiser makes your hair stand on end," she said. "And here's this little tiny town and look at all they've done. They are really making a difference."

Dennis Kennedy, Tully lacrosse coach, said about 500 T-shirts have been donated in Pat's memory. Tully High School graduate Mary Doody, who now lives in Syracuse, designed a logo for the front and back of the shirts that also will be used on literature from the local Baldwin foundation.

"Tully is a small community, but there is so much support here," Kennedy said. "It's a cause that's really touched all of us."