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Burke was diagnosed in January with stage-4 non-small cell cancer in his lungs and abdomen
CANFIELD
Mahoning County Sheriff’s Deputy Lenny Burke’s brothers in the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 141 have his back in his fight against his stage-4 non-small cell cancer in his lungs and abdomen.
“I always gave every thing I could. When you get it back, you don’t expect it but you appreciate it,” said Burke, 47, during a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for him Sunday sponsored by FOP Lodge 141.
Between the spaghetti dinner, raffle baskets, 50-50 tickets sold and donations, the fundraiser at Western Reserve United Methodist Church raised an estimated $15,000, said Mahoning County Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Russo, vice president of Lodge 141.
The money raised is for travel and lodging expenses and anything else insurance doesn’t cover, said Russo, a member of the church and maker of 50 gallons of spaghetti sauce for the dinner.
“We’re trying to kick in everything we can. The brotherhood is what makes it all worthwhile. I’ve always wanted to be a policeman because I like to help people,” said Russo, whose father, Rocco Russo was chief of the Youngstown Fire Department. His brothers, Richard who is retired, and Ronald, became fire department battalion chiefs.
“I didn’t like ladders,” Russo said, explaining why he broke family tradition.
Russo said the event received great support from all the people in the sheriff’s department and their families, and the church helped by allowing the use of the kitchen. There were many individual donations and gifts from Gia Russa, Sam’s Club and Neiman’s Family Market, among others, he said.
The stage-4 cancer diagnosis in January, a complete surprise to Burke, changed his and his family’s lives.
“I ran and worked out and took care of my body my whole life. There is no cancer in my family. This diagnosis came out of the blue,” he said.
Since then, he has undergone chemotherapy at the Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and is now participating in a clinical trial at The Ohio State University Medical Center to develop a drug for immunotherapy which helps the body learn to that its own cancer but doesn’t cause the immune system to over-react.
“It takes a toll on the body and it is hard on the family. I’ve been going through this all year with my wife, Marta,” who is also a Mahoning County sheriff’s deputy.
The Burkes have three children: Lenny Jr. of Struthers, and Austin and Bria, both at home, and a grandchild, Mason Burke. His mother, Cherrill Stankorb and brother, Larry Stankorb, both of Struthers; a brother, Anthony Slocum of Columbus, and a sister, Nadine Stankorb of Hamilton.
“I’ve never been alone through all of this. My family and the Lodge 141 brotherhood have helped me through the ups and downs. The letters and cards have made a big difference,” Burke said.
Burke, 47, grew up on Youngstown’s West Side, lived in Struthers for 20 years and has lived in Beaver Township for two years.
“We bought our dream home out there. It’s beautiful. If I’m one of the lucky ones, maybe I’ll beat this thing,” he said.
People who want to donate to the Burkes can do so by mailing a check or money order, with Lenny Burke on the memo line, to Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 141, 110 Fifth Ave., attention FOP, Youngstown, OH 44503.