Help Playland Make Light of Cancer

This article was going to be about how proud we are at Playland-Not-at-the Beach for having won Best East Bay Party Venue and The Best Indoor Play Place for two years in a row by Parents’ Press readers. If you have been to Playland-Not-at-the-Beach I hope you agree, if you have not been here please stop by for a visit and a free tour any Saturday or Sunday. 

The focus of this article changed when we began planning our booth and fund-raising effort for the July 21 & 22 at Cerrito Vista Park.  We had been encouraged to concentrate on one type of cancer and to educate people about the one type of cancer that had touched us the most.   We soon realized that the types of cancer that had touched us were as many as the number of people it had affected in our lives.  We did touch briefly on many of the negative aspects of it, but we soon found ourselves talking about the positive outcomes, which may sound like a paradox to many of you.

Life changing events are, well, life changing. For some the most intense parts of dealing with a terminal illness have past, some are dealing with it now, and I have little doubt, some of us will have it touch our lives (in most cases, again) in the future. I hope next month to share some of the positive things some of us have learned or taken with us from our experiences. Some of the positive effects are not so easily recognized or noticed when they are happening because we are so focused on the needs of the moment.

Cancer had a BIG effect on ALL of us here at Playland this year because of the passing of Richard Tuck last April (in 2011). Richard, a larger than life figure who influenced all who met him, was the founder and creative force behind Playland.  Richard did not die from cancer as much as he lived with it for the 14 months after his diagnosis. He never lost his incredible enjoyment of life, fun, and all that could be. In fact, he would describe it as one of his most productive years.

We missed the because it happened to fall on the same weekend we had a celebration of life party for Richard here at Playland.  This year Playland will be open as usual, but we will also have a team at Relay for Life. If you would like to support our team and the American Cancer Society, please visit us at our booth the weekend of the event and/or visit us online now at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/PlaylandPals. You can also show your support by sponsoring or making a luminaria in honor/memory/support of someone who has dealt with, has, or has had cancer. I have not experienced this in person yet, but I have been told it is a very special part of the Relay for Life weekend. We will have supplies to make them at Playland the first 2 weekends in July and at our Playland After-Dark (18 & over) event Tuesday, July 10th. We can also accept pre-made luminaria, or if you would like to sponsor one but don’t have the time or crafting ability to put it together, we will gladly accept requests to complete one for you.

We invite you to join us at Playland to help us all add more magic, more birthdays, and more memories to all of our lives. To find more details about dates and times please visit  www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org.

Frank Biafore is Playland’s Fabulous Fun Facilitator. This column was originally published in the July issue of the monthly newsletter, "Byline." 

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