Del Webb Lakewood Ranch has fun fundraising for cancer research

While Del Webb Lakewood Ranch is a 55 and older community, its residents are so active that Gerianne Verruso said, “It makes you not see age.”

“We dance; we sing,” said Laraine Greifinger, “We just want to enjoy our lives at this stage, and at the same time, give back to other people for the way our lives ended up.”

Verruso is a member of the Del Webb Women’s Club Lakewood Ranch, and Greifinger is the president of the club. The pair, along with the club's board and members, are gearing up to host the annual Del Webb Women’s Club Cancer Walk Oct. 17. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

The walk had a rocky start, hosting its first walk in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s become a mainstay of the club’s fundraising efforts. 

The previous five walks have raised $147,000 — $19,500 during the first year for the Barbara L. Posner Wellness & Support Center at The Cancer Institute at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center and $127,500 over the last four years for the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. 

Each year, the goal is to raise at least $25,000 and to have a lot of fun. 

The walk starts with a warmup led by Chrissy Higgins, one of Del Webb’s fitness instructors. 

File photo

“We have music pumping,” Verruso said. “It’s a very lively, upbeat type of warmup, getting you ready. You’re stretching; you’re dancing, and then we step off and go.”

Walkers have fun with their wardrobes, too. Verruso “loves a feather boa,” and there are typically quite a few pink boas in the crowd to represent breast cancer awareness. 

While there are always a lot of walkers wearing pink, proceeds fund research for all types of cancer. 

And there are always men in the crowd, too. Three men in particular — Joe Mazzarese, Rob DiTommaso and Ed Abdenour — have become popular at the walks. They treat all the walkers to coffee and donuts. 

Photo by Liz Ramos

Last year, the walk fell off a bit with just 90 walkers. The average attendance is usually around 200 walkers, which include community members from outside of Del Webb. 

When Greifinger took on the role as president, she was on a mission to bring back a strong showing. 

“Since my husband (Robert Berry) passed away of esophageal cancer, I couldn’t let this go,” she said. 

The walk is one event in a series of fundraisers that will help the club reach its $25,000 goal. Events include a kickoff brunch, a Bingo night and a raffle and silent auction.

The women’s club has nearly 300 members. Cancer is not their only cause. 

Every February, the club raises money for the American Heart Association. February was proclaimed “American Heart Month” in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. 

A fashion show in the spring raises money for different causes. This year, proceeds benefitted Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center. A prior year, Mothers Helping Mothers was the recipient. 

“Everything we do that we make money from, we give to an organization,” Greifinger said. “Everybody (on the five-member board) picks a different organization that’s close to our heart for whatever we’re doing.”

The club hosts at least one event a month, outside of August when a lot of members are traveling. 

Events cover the gamut from pickleball to holiday parties. 

“This is not your typical 55 and older community,” Verruso said. “We’re out. We’re playing sports. We’re in the community doing things.”