By Nance Ebert, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – The outpouring of love and support from the Marlborough community and beyond for a former resident of the city who is now battling cancer has been overwhelming, her family said. Along with many friends, the family of Holly McIntyre is planning to hold a fundraiser on Sunday, Dec. 11 for McIntyre, who now lives in Florida.
The fundraiser, “Happy Holly Days,” was the brainchild of Janie Corrigan, a member of Ladies First, a group of vocal performers, and the cousin of Holly’s sister, Cathy Davis. Corrigan is from Watertown and has been a performing member of this group for several years. Last year, the group decided to perform a holiday-style concert with the same name. Thinking about how wonderfully the performance was received, Corrigan immediately thought of a way to put this show together as a fundraiser and have all of the proceeds benefit the Holly McIntyre Cancer Fund. All four members of the group immediately agreed to perform one of their shows for the fundraiser.
“The evening will be a nice, upbeat way to celebrate Holly’s life,” Corrigan said. “We are taking a positive approach and praying for a cure. The family grew up in Marlborough with a lot of love. The siblings have lost their parents and a brother. They are just trying to pull it together for Holly.”
She added that they will videotape the show and send McIntyre a copy.
Corrigan is so happy that she could help and grateful to the Portuguese Club in Hudson as they made this upcoming event affordable for the group to pull off.
“They could not have been nicer and we were given a huge discount,” she explained. “We are so appreciative and I, for one, am humbled by this whole experience just watching so many people come together for this great cause and a celebration.”
In June 2016, McIntyre was diagnosed with leukemia (AML). She immediately started treatment involving chemotherapy and will be having a bone marrow transplant. One of her sisters, Cindi Breitkreitz, of Arizona, was a match and will be heading to Florida shortly to have this procedure.
McIntyre is a single mom in her 50s and is raising her daughter, Shayla, in Florida. She does have an aunt, Jane Ready, who lives about three hours away who has taken on the role of caregiver. Davis said that her aunt has been “absolutely amazing” and she is so thankful for all she has done.
“Once Holly has the procedure, she will need 24-hour care. Family members will schedule one- to three-week increments helping to care for her. We will need to take a class given by the hospital to insure proper care,” said Davis.
“Happy Holly Days,” a Fundraiser for Holly McIntyre will be held Sunday, Dec. 11, at The Portuguese Club, 13 Port St. in Hudson. The show begins at 4 p.m. There will be a cash bar and tables of 8-10 can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The tickets are $25 and seating will be cabaret style.
Anyone wishing to purchase tickets may contact Cathy Davis at 508-485-8235.
Anyone interested in making a donation can either send a check to Cathy Davis
300 Church Street, Marlborough, MA 01752 or go to the gofundme page for Holly McIntyre.
“We have about 160 people attending this event so far. I still can’t believe how generous people have been and my family and I are so appreciative. We have already taken care of her month’s rent, as she cannot currently work. She is not used to getting a handout and has been working two jobs. She is so deserving of this help and I am praying for a cure,” said Davis.
