It was a Friday at Cherry  

with Mondays at Racine

At the request of seven Fifth-grade students, Cherry Avenue Elementary School held a Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser during Breast Cancer Awareness month.

On a Friday in October, the Cherry Avenue Elementary School Community utilized the outreach services of Racine Hair Salon (Islip), renowned for their “Mondays at Racine” Day-of-Beauty for cancer patients. Three salon specialists, including owner Cynthia Sansone, visited the school and met the children who signed up—with a $10 contribution—for a pink natural hair extension. Others selected commemorative purple and white bracelets with their donations of $5.

The same seven Fifth-grade girls (Natasha Yajadda, Molly Schollenberger, Juliet Wessels, Ava Eriksen, Olivia Massey, Nicole Reina, and Kate Cassidy) also offered thank-you gifts for those who participated which included pencils, pink ribbons, and handmade duct-tape bracelets. By the end of the visit, the pink look was everywhere in the school as a show of support for this worthy cause, and Cherry Avenue had collected nearly  $1,200 for Breast Cancer Research.

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While fighting Cancer is difficult enough, Cancer patients who experience hair loss suffer self-esteem issues as well.  Alopecia, resulting from chemotherapy and radiation treatment, often includes loss of eyelashes and eyebrows, which further distresses patients about their self-image.  

Mondays at Racine is an ongoing service that was launched by two sisters, Rachel and Cynthia, owners of Racine’s Hair Salon in Islip, who opened their hearts and doors to help cancer patients recover their identities with free beauty services.

From their website: For over ten years, the staff of Racine has looked for a way to provide support and comfort to people receiving treatment for cancer. In 2003, they created the Mondays at Racine cancer care program, which provides complimentary services and supportive therapies every third Monday of the month.

At a time when few were addressing the mental and emotional impact of being diagnosed with cancer, Racine set out to attempt to offset its ravaging side effects and provide solace, integrity and support to its community members stricken with this disease. In that time, the program has grown to become a safe haven for patient's emotional well-being, as well as an important supportive resource center within our community. It has also helped hundreds of women deal with their affliction in a gentle and proactive way.

In 2012, Mondays at Racine was the subject of an Indie short documentary by Cynthia Wade, which garnered numerous film festival awards.