More than 600 friends, neighbors, and local residents turned out for the Maggie Gibson Fund Raising extravaganza at the VFW Post Home on Route 36 in Port Monmouth Saturday, showing love and affection for vibrant young Steven Institute of Technology graduate who is undergoing chemo treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Maggie, who is 23 years old and lives in Middletown, recently graduated from Stevens with a degree in bio medical engineering, She was diagnosed within months of graduation last September and has been facing medical procedures for future fertility in addition to other medications for cancer. She had graduated in May with honors and placed first in her Senior Entrepreneurship project. That award earned her the prestigious Ansary Prize for Entrepreneurship in Biomechanics.
Because of the prohibitive cost of the medical procedures and those related to the cancer diagnosis, the Ancient Order of Hibernians Monmouth 2 spearheaded the fundraiser to assist in her ongoing fight.
This week’s event raised more than $43,000, coupled with another $21,000 raised through a GoFundMe page.
“Despite the inclement weather,” Hibernians Monmouth 2 vice president John Foy said, “people were committed to attend the event, even in the rain, to support Margaret Gibson because she and her immediate family of three younger brothers and her parents Kevin and Patricia Gibson have a long history of Christian charity in this community.
That Christian Charity dates back to Maggie’s mother’s family, the Colemans, another family who live in Middletown.” Both families have been lifetime supporters not only to the community but in many ways also through the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of which Maggie is a member, and other Church and civic groups.
Many attendees and donors were Hodgkin Lymphoma survivors or came in honor of family members lost to this cancer. They came because she had many good friends from St. Mary’s Elementary School and St. John Vianney High School and her family has strong roots in the community.
They came out because when the AOH/LAOH support a cause the community always recognizes the need and comes out to support their cause.
The Go Fund Me fund raiser established where people can support Maggie will remain active for another month Donate to Support Maggie Gibson’s Fight Against Lymphoma . The fund was organized by Jerry Doherty and is still in need of support.
Donations and other correspondence can be sent to AOH Div. 2 P.O. Box 852, New Monmouth, NJ 07748
Maggie has not been able to work during treatment on Doctor’s orders; her recent test results indicate her treatment will continue into late spring and early summer at this point. She expresses deep thanks, gratitude, blessings and prayers for all those friends, family and strangers who have made her needs and concerns their own matter for which they want to help.
