Christmas Bash Against Colon Cancer Coming To East Northport's Twisted Cow Distillery
EAST NORTHPORT, NY — A Christmas party will be held to benefit a Kings Park woman who is battling late stage colon cancer.
The Christmas Bash Against Colon Cancer for Christie Garrecht is scheduled for noon Dec. 15 at Twisted Cow Distillery in East Northport. The event is being organized by Twisted Cow Distillery and Barkfield Road.
Twisted Cow Distillery is at 13 Hewitt Square, East Northport.
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The party will feature raffles, an ugly sweater contest, live music from Sunbuzz, Undone and Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, food, and more.
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“I’m very blessed to have amazing friends and neighbors such as Twisted Cow, Barkfield, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, and everyone else who is making this event possible,” Garrecht told Patch. “I absolutely love Christmas season and usually use it to bring joy to others. But this year I am blessed they are bringing joy to me by hosting this special event, I am very blessed.”
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Garrecht grew up in the Northport-East Northport area.
John Pawluk, owner of Twisted Cow Distillery, said he found out about Garrecht’s battle with cancer when her father stopped by the distillery and asked Pawluk if he could hang flyers for a fundraiser for his daughter. Then, Gabriella Neglia from Barkfield Road reached out to Pawluk and asked if the two could do something for Garrecht.
“It was the easiest thing in the world,” Pawluk said. “It was a non-decision. This is what community does. This is how people get help. This is how people support each other. That’s the epitome of neighborhood. All those words we take for granted, there’s a deeper meaning in them. When an opportunity comes about, we have a unique venue with a unique mindset. It’s about much more than one thing. It’s about each other.”
Pawluk said what Garrecht is going through is “horrific” and said cancer is a widespread disease. He said he wants to help people whenever an opportunity to do so arises. He said the fundraiser for Garrecht is “unique” in the sense it will have live bands playing and people donating food in a showing of togetherness. Pawluk said he hopes Garrecht’s health continues to improve.
Pawluk said people have a tendency to make very simple things in life “very complex.”
“I think we have to look at helping each other as the simplest thing,” he said. “We as people make things very difficult. What I try to do as a distiller, and I’ve learned from this approach, is don’t make the mistake to have to fix it. So when someone asks for help, you’ve got to find a way to help them. Keep it simple. People need help when they ask; it’s hard to ask for help. It’s really hard. I can assure you, I hate asking for help. Lord knows I need it every da– day. When someone else asks for help, and I’m able to, it’s a great feeling. It’s a really cool feeling to be a part of something where I think everyone’s going to have a really good time, and hopefully we’re successful. Hopefully, it’s found with positive results.”
A Kings Park family is also pitching in to help Garrecht during the Christmas season. John and Andrea Esposito transformed their 8 Colby Drive home into the Colby Christmas House, a holiday attraction. The family is accepting donations for Garrecht.
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