Providing some free legal services
in exchange for donations to the Toni Turchi Foundation supporting breast
cancer prevention are, rear, from left: Timothy Boyko, Patrick DiChiro and
Seven Hills Mayor Richard Dell'Acquila; front row, left, Seven Hills Law
Director Richard Pignatiello, and at right, Christine Tobin. Toni Turchi, who
established the Foundation, is front center.
SEVEN HILLS Similar to the importance of a
yearly mammogram and other preventive medical tests, a simple will, property
deed and power of attorney are documents everyone should have. And like those
medical tests, these imperative legal documents don’t always top a person’s
to-do list or have a place in the family budget. Some lawyers in Seven Hills have
teamed up to make obtaining these documents and legal services more accessible.
Throughout October, which is recognized nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness
Month, they will provide basic legal services free of charge. All they ask for
in return is that a donation be made to the Toni Turchi Foundation dedicated to
raising funds in support of scientific methods proven to prevent and eradicate
breast cancer.Turchi, a resident of Aurora, was
diagnosed in 2011 with triple negative breast cancer, a rare, aggressive form
that is less responsive to treatments. A longtime friend of Seven Hills Law
Director Richard Pignatiello, Turchi endured months of chemotherapy, a double
mastectomy and several rounds of radiation.Now, she refers to herself as “NED,”
a term representing “No Evidence of Disease.” Research has shown that if
someone with TNBC can surpass the five-year milestone, they statistically fall
into a greater success rate than any other form of breast cancer. Following treatment and disease
research, Turchi reflected on her experience and knew she needed to do
something more for future generations. She was introduced to Dr. Vincent Tuohy
of the Cleveland Clinic. He and his team of researchers in the Department of
Immunology are making discoveries toward what could become the first-ever
vaccine to prevent breast cancer, according to information on the Toni Turchi
Foundation website. Turchi founded the foundation in hopes of securing funds to
further support Tuohy’s research and tested trials, which have proven
successful on mice. “I know the prevention exists,”
Turchi said. “The vaccine is out there and ready for clinical trials. We have
to try and we can’t sit back.” Turchi called on her friendship with
Richard Pignatiello and Seven Hills lawyer Timothy Boyko, who recently lost his
wife, Patricia, to cancer. “I was over her house for dinner,
learned about her foundation and I wanted to do something to help raise
awareness,” Pignatiello said. He called out to his legal network of friends and
decided to garner foundation donations by offering free legal services for the
duration of October. In exchange for services, the lawyers ask that a nominal
donation be made to the Toni Turchi Foundation.
Participating lawyers are: Richard
Pignatiello, 216-524-1000; Christine Tobin, 216-369-0100; Timothy Boyko,
440-886-3800; Patrick DiChiro, 216-642-0424; and Seven Hills Mayor Richard
Dell’Aquila, 216-447-8500.
“Toni’s passion, energy and drive is
humbling,” Boyko said. “I have no doubt that she will be successful in her
mission.” Turchi, who has an 11-year-old son,
says she is determined to see to it that the next generation is spared from
what she says is an unnecessary disease. “If they can find a vaccine for polio,
they can find a vaccine for the nurturers, the moms,” she said. She reflects on her focus of staying
positive. “You could sink or swim, and sinking is not an option.”
To learn more about the Toni Turchi
Foundation, visit www.toniturchifoundation.org
email info@toniturchifoundation.org,
or call 330-333-0NED (0633).
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