The New York City Firefighters Foundation and legends of the New York Knicks gathered Friday ahead of the St. John’s basketball game against the Connecticut Huskies to rally around the daughter of one of New York’s Bravest.
Four-year-old Izzy Cashion was honored at the Fluer Room in Manhattan on Friday, as she battles a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma).
Cashion was diagnosed with the devastating illness at an FDNY company picnic last August.
Her Father, Tim Cashion, serves as a Lt. for Engine 46. Izzy is heading out of New York on Saturday to begin a two-month medical trial at Stanford University.
“They are so humbled by the community outreach that has shown up just to help them get housing for the next two months while they stand there with their daughter as she goes through a very long two-month battle,” said Managing Director of the NYFF, Mimi Coluccio, of the Cashion family.
The event, made possible by sponsorships from law firm Sullivan Papain and the New York Firefighters Foundation, featured appearances from Knicks superstars New York Knicks greats Allan Houston and John Starks–who organizers say joined the rally around Izzy to amplify the call for help.
“I think it really speaks to St. John’s community to the New York community as a whole to John Starks, and to Allan Houston for showing up for this event because I think it shows how much firefighters mean to New York City and how we don’t forget,” said Managing Partner of Sullivan Papain TJ McManus.
“New Yorkers don’t forget everything that they have done for us and it’s I think the idea that we are all in this together and we’re gonna step up to help them when they need us.”
Sullivan Papain will present the NYFF–which specializes in providing help and support to FDNY families struggling with circumstances off the line of duty–with a $10,000 donation.