BY EMILY SUHR
On Saturday, August 30, the Lake Wallkill community in New Jersey held its ninth annual cancer walk and marked the occasion with the dedication of a new section of the boardwalk.
The dedication honored the life and legacy of Laurie Fazal, a lifelong Lake Wallkill resident who passed away in 2022 after a short illness. A private community in the northernmost county in New Jersey, Lake Wallkill started as a summer residence and transitioned into a year-round home for some. Still, many members only return for the summer months, so the Labor Day weekend cancer walk acts as one of the last major activities until they reunite for Halloween.
The boardwalk was renamed Warriors Landing, a name inspired by the lake’s swim team that Fazal was a part of.
Over a hundred community members gathered alongside Fazal’s family in a short dedication ceremony. “My brother and I often say that the Lake Wallkill swim team is the heart of Lake Wallkill,” said Kerry Duffy, a longtime resident and friend of Fazal. “She was even coached by my brother back in the day.”
“As we always say, ‘Once a Warrior, always a Warrior,’” Duffy continued. “In loving memory of Laurie. Your memory is our strength, your eternal light is our guide.”
After the dedication, the ceremony moved into the annual cancer walk, a tradition that has steadily grown since it started almost a decade ago. Volunteers arranged tables with baked goods, raffle tickets, and event shirts that allowed everyone to participate, even if they couldn’t walk. Along the route, supporters lined the sides to cheer on the walkers as they made their way around the lake.
“Whatever money we get we divide in three equal parts,” said Nancy Woeckener, the event organizer and President of the Ladies of the Lake, which supports activities happening at the lake. “The past two years we’ve raised $5000 each year, which is awesome, and I thank everyone that shows up because they make it possible.”
The money raised from the walk supports three different cancer-focused research organizations. METAvivor funds metastatic breast cancer research, and focuses on finding a cure for stage 4 of the disease. The Lustgarten Foundation supports pancreatic cancer research, a field that historically has eceived very little funding. Lastly, the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation focuses on research to find a cure for childhood cancer.
For residents of Lake Wallkill, this walk is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a time to honor loved ones and show what a community can achieve together.
“This is just a big round of applause to yourselves,” Woeckener told the crowd, “because we couldn’t do it without you.”