The Mary Ruchalski Foundation donated $30,000 to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) to support rhabdomyosarcoma research. On October 23rd, Carol and Francis Ruchalski came to CSHL to present a $30,000 check to Professor Christopher Vakoc to support the cutting-edge research his lab is doing in the field.
In January 2017, Mary Ruchalski, then a sixth-grader at St. Agnes Cathedral School, Rockville Center, N.Y., was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that affects muscle tissue. Though doctors were unsure whether she would live to see the start of the next school year, she attended the first month of seventh grade after months of intense treatment. Sadly, Mary, died in March 11, 2018 at age 12. Mary’s parents and siblings have set up a foundation in her name to raise awareness of pediatric cancer and provide funding for pediatric cancer research.