‘Bucket List Bash’ in North Naples generates support for cancer research

The fight against cancer is in Southwest Florida this weekend.

“Bucket List Bash” got underway at the Naples Grand Resort in North Naples Saturday night. It was all in effort to raise money for American Cancer Society.

“Bucket List Bash” continued its mission to support American Cancer Society and cancer research while also celebrating it tenth anniversary.

We told you about Kathy Mezzalingua, who is the events honorary chairperson at the night’s event. Since Mezzalingua’s daughter, Laurie, died of breast cancer, Mezzalingua has helped more than 7,000 other women during their treatment.

“She was 29. There were no risk factors; it came out of the blue,” Kathy told WINK News. “She struggled for 12 years. We did surgeries, chemotherapy, alternative medicine.”

Kathy formed her own organization in honor of her daughter and has affected thousands of lives of other cancer patients.

“It’s a legacy that she left,” Kathy said.

WINK News and our magazine partner Gulfshore Life are proud sponsors of the event. And WINK News Anchor Lois Thome was the emcee for the event.

“There is not anyone in our population that hasn’t been touched by it,” Thome said. “But we can overcome it with the right amount of money to raise for research to wipe it out.”

The goal at the 2020 event was to raise over $1 million to help find a cure. All the money raised will go toward cancer research. We will update our story when the total is confirmed.

Mezzalingua said she wants future patients like her daughter to be “cured and will not have to die the way our daughter did.”

Ali Levine with American Cancer Society shared words of encouragement to all supporters at the event.

“We know that the people in this community can make a true difference,” Levine said.