Students Organize Fundraiser In Memory Of Beloved Teacher

RIVERHEAD, NY — They were "Stromski Strong": Riverhead students turned out this week to raise funds for Keri Lynn Stromski, a beloved teacher at Aquebogue Elementary School who died in April after a fierce battle with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.

The Riverhead Varsity Girls Lacrosse team organized a game on Thursday in memory of Stromski; all funds raised were donated to the North Fork Breast Health Coalition in her name. Those unable to attend can donate funds here.

At the game the North Fork Breast Health Coalition announced that their new Stage IV breast cancer fund would be named the "NFBHC Keri Lynn Stromski Stage IV Breast Cancer Research and Support Fund."

Stromski, 48, who lived Jamesport with her husband Rob and three children, died on April 6, leaving a trail of tears so far and wide that all of Riverhead seemed to be weeping.

Stromski made headlines around the world in March when one of her kindergarten students, whom she'd been instructing virtually, made a "hug machine" along with his family so that his favorite teacher could hug again, something she'd been missing so much. The story went viral and suddenly, the world knew something Riverhead had known all along — Stromski was a bright light of love for the many who blossomed under her tutelage.

She was not only a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend to the scores who adored her, she was also a tireless champion for other women in the Stage IV arena, a self-described "unicorn" in the battle, sharing life-saving research tips and sprinkling social media with upbeat TikToks during chemo sessions like so much sunshine.

"Stage IV Needs More" was her battle cry as she advocated tirelessly for life-saving research.

Stromski was also a forever champion of children, not just her own three, Madison, Morgan, and Quinn — but all her students, past and present. She spoke out to ensure the Riverhead Union Free School District received its fair share of state funding— and during the pandemic, she created a Facebook page so that seniors who saw their plans derailed due to the coronavirus could be shown love and appreciation.

New York State Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio of Riverhead introduced a resolution to honor Stromski.

After Stromski was diagnosed with cancer, she became laser-focused on research, on education, on raising awareness; it's research that will make the difference, Stromski said often in her blog, "Faith Over Fear."

Her mission was to flip the switch on where money raised is allocated, with a much higher percentage in the future dedicated to Stage 4 cancer.

In March, the NFBHC announced the newly created Stage IV Research and Grant Fund.

“Now we can expand our mission. The Stage IV Fund will not only provide financial support to oncologists who are actively doing cutting-edge research on extending and saving lives of Stage IV breast cancer patients, but also to Stage IV thrivers with unexpected costs and expenses associated with their treatment,” said Susan Ruffini, NFBHC president.

The North Fork Breast Health Coalition is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that supports local breast-cancer patients with programs such as Helping Hand grants. The group also provides free services such as gentle yoga, reflexology, meditation class, and massage therapy to breast-cancer patients and survivors.

Ann Cotten-DeGrasse and her late husband, Antonio, founded NFBHC in 1998 because, they said, they saw the need for such an organization on the North Fork, where there is an especially high rate of diagnosis of the disease.