Cancer Survivor Rich Mineo Named as Ambassador Honoree
Day Kimball Healthcare’s (DKH) annual Walk & Race for the Northeast Connecticut (NECT) Cancer Fund of DKH will be held Saturday, August 10, with check-in beginning at 7:30 a.m. 

As in previous years of the event, the Day Kimball Healthcare Walk & Race committee has selected a local cancer survivor whose story embodies the fight against cancer and the importance of supporting local, high-quality cancer care. Rich Mineo of Woodstock has been chosen as this year’s Ambassador. “We’re honored to have Rich Mineo as the champion of our cause and spokesperson for the NECT Cancer Fund this year,” said Kristen Willis, DKH Director of Development. “As one of our most dedicated and enthusiastic supporters, Rich truly represents what our community is all about and was more than willing to step forward in support of helping others who are facing difficult times.”

“The annual Walk & Race event brings the Northeast Connecticut community together to remember, celebrate, and honor those who have battled cancer and support those who are fighting their own battle now,” said DKH President and CEO Anne Diamond. “It is in this way that the NECT Fund of DKH is able to change the lives of those in our community today and tomorrow.”

About the Walk & Race
The event course will cover a 5-mile loop that begins and ends at Black Dog Bar and Grille on Park Road. Walkers will set out at 8:30 a.m. and the race will follow at 9:00 a.m. The first 250 registrants will receive a free race T-shirt and the first, second, and third place male and female finishers will each receive a cash award. Chip timing will be provided for both runners and walkers for the 5-mile trek. Back by popular demand will be the kids half-mile Fun Run scheduled for 9:15 a.m.

The Walk & Race remains one of Day Kimball Healthcare’s and Northeast Connecticut’s most popular and long-standing events, and is one of five fundraising activities this year that support the NECT Cancer Fund of DKH. The four other events include Guest Bartender Night held in March, Annual Wine Tasting held in May, Annual Cruisin’ for Cancer Care to be held in June, and Celebrity Scoops Night to be held in August. In 2018, over $50,000 was raised through these vents in support of the Fund.

About the 2019 Ambassador
Rich Mineo, 72, of Woodstock has been chosen by the Day Kimball Healthcare Walk & Race committee as this year’s Ambassador. Mineo was diagnosed with follicular b-cell lymphoma in the spring of 2016.

Mineo’s diagnosis has made him a frequent visitor at DKH. After undergoing digital imaging, Mineo’s lymph node was surgically removed and biopsied which confirmed he had grade one, stage three follicular b-cell lymphoma. His treatment plan consisted of two years of immunotherapy which he completed in August 2018.

The most common sign of follicular lymphoma is a painless swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck, armpit or groin. “When I felt a lump under my chin, I knew exactly what it was. I had done enough research to know that if you press on the lump and it doesn’t hurt, odds are its cancer,” said Mineo. “The care I received at DKH was great. I felt comfortable within the first half hour of being at the hospital. The nursing staff were kind and caring and I grew close to many of them over several visits to DKH. I always felt like I was in good hands.”

Follicular lymphoma tends to behave like a chronic condition with people experiencing long periods of relatively good health. Mineo expects to need more treatment down the road. That is why supporting the NECT Cancer Fund is important to him. “I don’t want to receive my care anywhere else. Day Kimball Healthcare is a critical resource not only for me, but all of Northeast Connecticut, so it’s important that it has the financial resources to remain in the community and expand its services for future generations,” said Mineo.

When asked how he felt about his appointment as this year’s Walk & Race Ambassador, Mineo said, “I will do whatever I can to support DKH and other patients and families who are battling cancer. The NECT Cancer Fund of DKH benefits our community by keeping proceeds local, offering assistance to those who otherwise may not have the financial resources to obtain treatment and care.”

Although Mineo was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania and has lived in several other locations before settling down in Northeast, Connecticut, he has found a home here in the quiet corner, where he has resided for the last 25 years. Mineo says his biggest support comes from his wife, Wanda Mineo, Vice President of the Woman’s Board of Day Kimball Hospital, his daughter, son, grandsons, and friends.

In his retirement years, Mineo enjoys bicycling, league bowling and participating in tournaments, aerobics and weight training, and volunteering for Day Kimball Healthcare.

About the Fund
The Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of DKH provides financial assistance for cancer-related screening and treatment services to individuals living in Northeast Connecticut who otherwise may not have the financial resources to obtain needed medical attention. Through the generous contributions of local businesses, community members, and various events like the Walk & Race, more than $1.3 million has been raised for the Fund since its inception in 1989, all of it staying local, exclusively to help residents of Northeast Connecticut.

Walk & Race Event Registration
For more information about the Walk & Race for the NECT Cancer Fund, or to register for the event visit daykimball.org/CancerFundRun or call the Day Kimball Healthcare Development Office at (860) 928-7141. The fee is $35 per participant with a family rate of $75 total for all family members in the same household. The kids Fun Run entry fee is $5.

For more information about cancer care screening and treatment services at Day Kimball Hospital, visit daykimball.org/cancercare.

PHOTO CAPTION: Woodstock resident, Rich Mineo, appointed as the 2019 Ambassador for this year’s Walk & Race to benefit the NECT Cancer Fund of DKH.