Published in the January 11, 2017 edition

CANCER SURVIVOR Molly Malone (center) was presented with a $5,000 check from the organization Cops for Kids with Cancer on Molly Malone Day, Jan. 5. Front row, from left, Patrick, Emily and Audrey Malone. Back row, from left, Cops for Kids Board of Director members Ed McNelley, Stacey Abato and Stephen DaCorta; Tim, Molly and Nukhet Malone; Police Chief David Breen, patrolman Jonathan Duzz and Selectman Dick Dalton. (Dan Tomasello Photo)

CANCER SURVIVOR Molly Malone (center) was presented with a $5,000 check from the organization Cops for Kids with Cancer on Molly Malone Day, Jan. 5. Front row, from left, Patrick, Emily and Audrey Malone. Back row, from left, Cops for Kids Board of Director members Ed McNelley, Stacey Abato and Stephen DaCorta; Tim, Molly and Nukhet Malone; Police Chief David Breen, patrolman Jonathan Duzz and Selectman Dick Dalton. (Dan Tomasello Photo)

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Over the course of the past year, Lynnfield High School junior Molly Malone has become a heroine in the Lynnfield community throughout her courageous fight over Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

Molly’s strength, resiliency and determination were recognized on Jan. 5 during a ceremony in the selectmen’s meeting room. The room was jammed packed with local officials and members of the organization Cops for Kids with Cancer, who presented Molly and her family with a $5,000 check.

Police Chief David Breen served as the master of ceremonies. He presented Molly, who is now in remission, and her family with two bouquets of roses on behalf of the “men and women of the Lynnfield Police Department.”

Selectman Dick Dalton thanked the Malone family, local officials and Cops for Kids with Cancer for attending the ceremony.

“It’s my privilege to be here on behalf of the Board of Selectmen, but my real privilege is meeting you Molly,” said Dalton. “You have been a real inspiration to all of us in this community. You have travelled a difficult road this past year, and you have proven to all of us that once you choose hope as you did, anything is possible.”

Dalton read a proclamation from the Board of Selectmen declaring Jan. 5, 2017 as “Molly Malone Day.” While reading the proclamation, Dalton encouraged residents to “take notice of this auspicious occasion.”

Breen noted he could not remember in his 22 years serving on the Lynnfield Police Department “a day being devoted to a resident of town.”

“It’s a very special day for a very special person,” said Breen.

Cops for Kids with Cancer Board of Directors member Stephen DaCorta said it was his pleasure to recognize Molly.

DaCorta noted Cops for Kids with Cancer is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on raising funds to provide assistance to families of children fighting cancer as part of an effort to improve their quality of life. He said a police captain who was fighting cancer founded the organization in 2002.

“He noticed at Mass General there were some kids in a place where they were being treated,” recalled DaCorta. “He wanted to help take care of these kids.”

Since Cops for Kids with Cancer was launched, DaCorta said the organization has over 1,278 volunteers who have distributed over $2.5 million to almost 500 families.

“We have zero paid employees,” said DaCorta. “We are funded by police departments and many people from all walks of life. Our main events are the Boston Marathon, golf tournaments, a motorcycle rally and a comedy night. We also have Maureen Hancock help us out once in awhile. She is the lady who reads Postcards from Heaven. She is wonderful. We have no shave months in many, many police departments.”

DaCorta told Molly the organization is thrilled she is “doing well.”

“It’s our pleasure to present you with this check,” said DaCorta.

After DaCorta and Breen presented the $5,000 check to Molly and her family, which includers her parents, Tim and Nukhet, and her siblings, Emily, Patrick and Audrey, they were given a round of applause.

“I want to thank you and your family,” Breen told Molly. “On behalf of all of us, thank you so much.”

A family touched

Molly’s mom, Nukhet, thanked Cops for Kids with Cancer and the entire community for the support they have given the Malone family throughout her battle with cancer.

“It was a year ago, January 2016, when we were thrown into this world of childhood cancer,” said Nukhet. “It was terrifying, it was awful, and we didn’t know half the time if we were coming or going. It was a nightmare to say the least. But through it all, we discovered incredible goodness in people. We saw complete kindness and generosity from complete strangers that came to help us, prayed for us and sent us messages of support.”

Nukhet said people often see terrible things happening in the world whenever the news is on TV, but said that is not the whole story.

“We have witnessed that there is so much good out and there are so many good people,” said Nukhet. “There are amazing organizations such as (Cops for Kids with Cancer) that help families like ours. We are not the first family and I’m sure, unfortunately, we aren’t going to be the last. We thank you so much for helping us and supporting us.”

In addition to thanking Cops for Kids with Cancer, Nukhet said the town “helped us and supported us this year.” She thanked patrolman Jonathan Duzz for nominating Molly to receive the donation from Cops for Kids with Cancer.

“Thank you for making Cops for Kids with Cancer know about our situation,” said Nukhet. “Thank you Chief Breen for hosting this event and having everybody here for us.”

Nukhet also thanked three school officials in attendance, including Superintendent of Schools Jane Tremblay.

“Thank you Jane for everything you did for our family last year and everything you are still doing to help us out,” said Nukhet. “It means so much to us and on a personal note, I love getting those texts from you saying you were thinking about us and checking in to see how Molly is doing. It means so much to us.”

Nukhet also thanked Huckleberry Hill School Principal Brian Bemiss for the support he and the elementary school’s faculty have given Molly’s three younger siblings, Emily, Audrey and Patrick.

“I was kept at the hospital with Molly for weeks and months,” said Nukhet. “I knew Mr. Bemiss that the minute they walked in the door at school that they were well taken care of, and I thank you for that. I never had to worry about them because I knew they were safe, even in the summer when they did camps. I knew they were in good hands. My focus was Molly, and everyone else came to help with them. Thank you for that.”

In an interview with the Villager, Nukhet also thanked high school math teacher Joe DiBiase for tutoring Molly last year and keeping her on track.

“(DiBiase) is a great guy,” said Nukhet.

In her closing remarks during the ceremony, Nukhet thanked Molly for serving as a pillar of strength for the Malone family. She said the family is looking forward to turning the page this year.

“In the darkest days of last year, we got our strength from Molly,” said Nukhet. “She fought so hard, she persevered and came out victorious. This is a new year and we are full of hope. We are ready to put our lives back together and move forward with our new normal. We thank you for letting us do that, and thank you for this help and letting our family be whole again.”

After Nukhet concluded her remarks, she was given a round of applause.

“Thank you so much Molly,” said Breen. “We are always here for you and your family.”

In an interview with the Villager, Molly said it feels great to be in remission.

“It feels good to have my life back now,” she said. “I have been done (with treatment) for a couple of months.”

Molly stressed it’s important for people battling cancer “not to lose hope.”

“It’s so easy to mentally fall into the hole,” said Molly. “But you have to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it will all be over eventually.”

Nukhet informed the Villager Molly is “back at school with her classmates and is on track to graduate in 2018.” She also said Molly has also resumed her passion of figure skating. Molly’s father, Tim, added that his daughter is very much looking forward to using their family’s backyard rink.