By LINDA M. LINONIS

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — Amid a lot of happiness and hugs, ROCcK Children’s Choir unveiled its first CD effort, “ROCcK — Compilation of Talent Donated for Cancer.”

The choir celebrated at a release party Wednesday at the Maag Theater in Boardman Township Park with family and friends. They sang a few of the songs, including “Relay the Message” and “ROCcK Rap,” that reflect a spirit of survival, hope and love of life.

The choir, numbering about 22 and ranging in age from 4 to 17, involves cancer survivors, siblings and friends.

Brenda Rider of Austintown, director of the choir — Raising Our Commitment to Cancer Kids — presented a thank-you award to Denise DeBartolo York. The businesswoman and philanthropist donated $3,500 to underwrite expenses associated with making the CD. It was recorded at Tune Town Recordings in Newton Falls.

The CD

DeBartolo York described the choir as an “amazing inspiration” that has “persevered.” The children responded with spontaneous hugs for their benefactor.

“Denise heard the choir sing at Forte on the 50 at Youngstown State University,” Rider said. “She asked what she could do to help. She told me how much she enjoyed hearing the children sing.”

The CD features original songs; Rider contributed to 13 of the 15 tracks. “They’re about surviving,” she said.

The children are featured on seven tracks; Rider and other adults on the other eight. Local radio personality Kelly Stevens reads the poem, “Speak of Cancer,” on one track, Rider said.

“We have 1,000 CDs to sell,” Rider said. The money will go to the A Way with Words Foundation Inc., which Rider also founded. The foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for cancer research through the publishing of written works submitted by those locally touched by cancer. It also sponsors the choir.

The next book, “The Blessing of Survivors and Friends,” which is in the works, features an introduction by Ira Joe Fisher, weather reporter for the “Saturday Early Show” on CBS. He is a writer and poet.

Surviving cancer

The projects resulted from Rider’s own diagnosis of breast cancer in 1999. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation to combat an aggressive cancer. “I’m an eight-year survivor,” she said.

Rider, who has had a lifelong interest in music and poetry, sought out music as a form of therapy. She picked up the guitar again, and the choir was organized in 2002. Janeen Williams, who helped organize the group, collaborated with Rider on some songs.

Rider’s original songs reflect that life goes on despite or in spite of the disease.

Meredith Reffner of Poland has been with the choir since it began. The 16-year-old, who will be a senior at Poland High School in the fall, is in remission from leukemia. Though she admitted her mother was the reason she got involved, she’s glad she did. “It’s a positive thing,” she said. “It made me more comfortable to talk about it and open up.”

Meredith also said the choir is “a good way that we can support each other.”

Kaitlyn Dietz, 12, of North Jackson and Eileen Wantes, 11, of Austintown, also are choir members. Kaitlyn became involved because she is Rider’s niece, and Eileen has lost family members and a teacher to cancer. Both agreed their involvement was based on wanting to help people.