Remembering Amy’s Treat Volunteer Caren Peloso.

When one is engaged with a non-profit that works with cancer patients, it is sadly inevitable that someone to whom one grows attached, someone who puts the challenges of her disease aside and commits herself to making things better for others, will die. We lost one such person when Amy’s Treat volunteer, Caren Peloso, passed away on September 8, 2011 after two plus years of living with her disease. We say “living” because Caren enjoyed life to the fullest, and if a fight with a terminal diagnosis of cancer was ever a fair one (which it never is), she would have overcome simply because she was both so stubbornly spirited and cleverly brilliant.

Caren’s contributions to Amy’s Treat were many. In addition to scripting many of our text materials, she was the force behind various fund raising events with the members of the Dover Moose Lodge and Epping American Legion Post. She brought new energy and laughter to us as she “picked the pockets of friends” (her words) in order to allow us to benefit still more people who share in this journey of cancer.

I often try to imagine the conversation that takes place when a person, who was first a recipient and then joins with us in helping Amy Treat to grow, passes over and then meets Amy. I think it would be pretty reasonable to predict that Caren’s first words to her were mostly likely these: “and so where do they keep the tequila around here and what can I do to help?” Having had the pleasure of knowing them both, there is no doubt in my mind that they’ll become fast friends and together take full advantage of the rewards of having lived true and meaningful lives. Whoop it up, dear Caren!

Caren’s thoughts about Amy’s Treat can be found here.

Amy’s Treat board member Dr. Barbara Civiello with Caren Peloso at Amy in Bloom 3.

Caren Peloso - shares a moment with AT board members Lenore Rogers and Robin Luczek
and SCC staff members Patti Frizzle, Lucy Jordan and Alice Tansey at a Dover Moose Breakfast
to raise funds for Amy’s Treat.