Chuggin’ for Chooch Effort Raises Thousands for 'Christmas Without Cancer'

By ABBIE O'RYAN

Deep in her heart, Tiffany Panicucci knew that her husband, Chris, wanted to return the favor to the charity that helped his family in the time of their greatest need.

Chris Panicucci, a Burbank police officer and Evergreen Park resident, was diagnosed with a brain tumor while his wife, Tiffany, was pregnant with daughter Madelynn. It was Gerri Neylon and her team of "Christmas Without Cancer" volunteers who parachuted into their home at Thanksgiving time to begin paying bills and picking up the kinds of small tabs that can drain a family in crisis.

Two Saturdays ago, the Second Annual Chuggin’ for Chooch 5K Walk/Run held Saturday June 7 raised thousands of dollars for Christmas Without Cancer in honor of Chris “Chooch” Panicucci, who died three years ago after two battles with cancer.

“No matter how sick he got, Chris always wanted to do his job as a police officer,” said Burbank police officer Mike Wise, a long-time colleague.

A Time of Need

‘Christmas Without Cancer’ is the brainchild of Evergreen Park-resident Gerri Neylon, a nurse in the radiation oncology department at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, who has led a team of volunteers on a seasonal blitz to bring holiday cheer to families affected by cancer.  

Since 2003, the organization has quietly identified and adopted multiple Southland families in late fall and by Christmas season supplied them with gift cards for groceries, medications and gas, among other “need” items.

Christmas Without Cancer recognized the Panicucci’s needs and adopted the family in the winter of 2010 providing them with baby supplies, a video camera, as well as gift cards to gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores.

“Christmas Without Cancer’s help went even beyond the holiday season when Neylon came bearing generosity as she visited Chris each and every time he was in the hospital,” said Tiffany.

Panicucci sadly lost his battle in August 2011. The Panicucci family picked themselves up motivated by the chance to give back to Christmas Without Cancer in Chris’s honor.

“Chris was always giving to others,” said event co-organizer Vicky Gutierez, “whether he was stopping to help someone with a flat tire or just helping a friend he was always giving.”

Giving back to Christmas Without Cancer carries out Chris’s legacy of giving. The Chuggin’ for Chooch event is scheduled to take place on a Saturday in June every year at Burbank’s Newcastle Park, the same place family and friends gathered the last two to show their love and support. Throughout the afternoon, everyone shared memories of Panicucci as a man always trying to help the community.

“Daddy’s Best Girl”

One story was indicative of how Panicucci “wasn’t afraid to go straight to the top” to get things done. When the sidewalk needed repair for daughter, Madelynn, to ride her bike safely, Chris called straight to the Mayor of Evergreen Park Jim Sexton, “and the next thing you know, we're getting a new sidewalk put in." said Tiffany.

“One time, Chris came to the rescue of a man who fell in his yard and helped get him to the hospital in time for doctors to extend his life long enough to see his family,” said Gutierez.

In his Honor

According to family members, Chris would have been honored by the outreach and support and the generous donations made in his name to Christmas Without Cancer. Everyone agreed that Chris’s wish would have been to provide another cancer-stricken family with a joyous Christmas.

As for Neylon, she didn’t know what to expect when she began the journey and is surprised a decade has passed so quickly.

The recent success has provided “pennies from heaven” for families year round.  As donations come in, Neylon is able to quietly match it to need or even hardship that can be addressed with just a few hundred dollars.

“The families’ challenges are physical, emotional and financial,” Neylon said.  “The team can devote themselves to each other during the beautiful Christmas season.”

Learn more about Christmas Without Cancer. 

Abbie O'Ryan is a summer intern at Figel Public Relations.