Paulette's C of Hope

Description

For over a decade now, Paulette Stallone has hosted an annual cancer awareness and fundraising event to pay it forward to the place she credits for saving her life when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer. Thanks to Paulette and her incredible committee of survivors, community members and CentraState team members this event has raised over $475,000 for colorectal cancer programs and services at CentraState.

Our event this year will be a family-friendly walk around the one-mile course on the CentraState campus for anyone who has been impacted by any type of cancer. Participants are invited to wear the cancer advocacy color that means the most to them and are encouraged to fundraise as individuals or part of a team for the correlated CentraState cancer program/service.

Registration is free, and you can join us in-person or virtually.

For questions please call 732-294-7030 or email foundation@centrastate.com

Walk Contact Info

If you have any questions about this walk, please contact the walk director at

Paulette's Story

It’s February 19, 2009. Do you remember what you did that day?

I was sick. Inexplicably, suddenly, terribly sick. My daughter Nicole – then just 20 years old – drove me to the hospital. My doctor admitted me as a trauma patient. Out came the needles. My heart rate faded. Looking back now, it’s like I am recounting an episode of ‘ER’ or ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ but it was, and still is, very real. Most people were coming off the post-holiday-season-rush and Valentine’s Day sweetness. My family and I were forced into a new, cold, scary reality.

At just 44 years old, with no family history of the disease, I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. I had no risk factors.

So what did I do? I ran. I put on my sneakers and I ran, and I kept running. I went to chemotherapy and then I ran some more. If there are only three things in this world I am sure of, they are:

1. CentraState and my team of doctors saved my life.
2. My people – my family, friends and neighbors – saved my life.
3. Running saved my life.

This year is the 13th Anniversary of my event – which we have renamed to Paulette’s C of Hope. I started this event while still on chemo and it has grown to one of the largest cancer-focused events in the state. It is a day filled with my favorite things – family, friends, fitness and fun; and all proceeds will benefit the cancer programs and services at CentraState. This year, sponsors and donors will have the opportunity to direct their support to the CentraState cancer program or service that is most meaningful to them.

In 2018, funds we raised were used to purchase equipment used to monitor colorectal surgery patients’ fluid levels during and after surgery. Due to the success and positive outcomes of these new monitors they have even been used for even more complicated cancer and non-cancer related surgeries.

Please join me and my family on Sunday, May 19 – as a sponsor, donor, or walker – your support will directly impact my family and so many in our community who have been touched by cancer.

My deepest thanks,
Paulette Stallone