From left, Alexandra, Nate, Chloe and Candace Mulcahy receive a $12,960 check from Tioga Downs during a trackside presentation on Saturday. (Photos by Wendy Post)

NICHOLS, N.Y. — During the last evening of the harness racing season at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. on Sept. 11, track owner Jeff Gural had the opportunity to present checks to two families that were benefited through donations raised in the month of August during the Horseplay Car Giveaway. Following the first race of the track’s final evening, the families of Chloe Mulcahy and Aliesya Abrams were presented with checks for approximately $13,000.

The presentation of the checks were made by Gural and Jason Settlemoir, vice president of racing and simulcasting for Tioga and Vernon Downs. In front of a crowd of 4,206 fans that packed the grandstands for the final evening of racing, Gural personally thanked guests and horsemen from the Southern Tier Harness Horsemen’s Association for the contributions they made to these families during the month of August, stating, “This could not have been possible without all of this support.”

From left, Hailey Conklin, Mitch Conklin, Aliesya's mother Leslie Kaminski, Aliesya Abrams and her father Ben Abrams, Amanda Janicki and Aliesya's grandmother Rhoda Messemer receive a $12,960 check from Tioga Downs during a trackside presentation on Saturday

Also receiving a check during Saturday’s presentation was Catherine Markosky, president and founder of the Southern Tier Alternative Therapies (STAT) organization. Markosky, who stood trackside with her disabled son Mason, accepted a check for $1,500 that was raised through a recent BBQ and Horseplay at the track. STAT is also the featured charity for fundraising during the month of September at Tioga Downs.

And Jennifer O’Brien from The Magic Paintbrush Project, was also at the track to support organizations that service individuals with disabilities, and will be a recipient of fundraising efforts that took place at Tioga Downs’ sister track, Vernon Downs. O’Brien’s organization is expected to be receiving $2,000 from the track, and will utilize the money to provide a concert series for children with disabilities, as well as a program that will be a collaborative effort with the Binghamton Senators.

“The money we get from the track will impact no less than 350 area children with special needs,” said O’Brien of her organization’s work with children with disabilities.

And with two daughters at home that have cerebral palsy, O’Brien created several pieces of artwork to present to Gural and Settlemoir on Saturday that were created at home.

From left, track owner Jeff Gural; and Jason Settlemoir, vice president of racing and simulcasting for Tioga and Vernon Downs were presented paintings created by the Magic Paintbrush Project. Vernon Downs held a fundraiser for the organization at their track located near Syracuse.

“The paintings were created by special needs children to express appreciation for all the help given here tonight to these children,” said O’Brien on Saturday.

And for the two families that received the donations totaling close to $13,000, the assistance couldn’t have come at a time of greater need.

For the family of 1-year old Chloe Mulcahy, the dollars will help the family offset expenses being incurred while they await a miracle. Young Chloe was diagnosed in January of 2010 with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a rare genetic blood and kidney disorder.

According to her mother Candace, Chloe had plasma transfusions daily following her diagnosis that required travel to a specialized center in Syracuse. But the transfusions soon overloaded her system and were causing her organs to shut down.

In April of this year an experimental drug called Soliris was given to Chloe through transfusions, and the family is hoping that the drug will be the cure for the young girl’s disorder.

From left, Sara DeFrancesco, secretary of the board at Southern Tier Alternative Therapies (STAT), is pictured with Jason Settlemoir, vice president of racing and simulcasting for Tioga and Vernon Downs, and the President of STAT Catherine Markosky and her son Mason. The organization received a $1,500 check from Tioga Downs that was raised through a recent BBQ and Horseplay.

At $16,000 per treatment, combined with time taken from work, Candace said that the donation received by the community through Tioga Downs is going to help keep her daughter alive. Candace, who works as a professor of special education at Binghamton University, just recently returned to work as Chloe’s visits to Syracuse have been reduced to once every three weeks.

“It has been eight months,” said Candace of her daughter’s treatments, “but it feels much longer.”

Candace noted that Chloe’s prognosis isn’t good, and that most children diagnosed with this rare genetic disorder die within a year. “If they live they have to continue dialysis until a kidney is available for transplant,” said Candace. “The problem is,” she added, “that once the transplant is complete, the disorder will eventually destroy the new kidney.” “So we celebrate every day we have with her,” she added, “and the fact that she doesn’t look sick makes it easier.”

Candace also noted that she gets by knowing that Chloe is making history as she is the fourth child to receive the experimental drug. “I feel blessed to know her,” said Candace of her daughter.

And for the Abrams family, who received an identical check to assist their family, they continue to watch as 3 1/2-year old Aliesya Abrams battles Medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor.

According to Aliesya’s father Ben, she was diagnosed with the brain tumor early on, and then it came back as malignant in June of this year. He also explained that Aliesya just completed her third round of chemotherapy at Upstate Galisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse, and that he lost his job recently because of time missed from work.

Because of the loss of his job, and the travel that family members are making to accompany young Aliesya for her treatments, the dollars raised by the community through Tioga Downs will help out tremendously. “I won’t have to worry about being back to work right away while she goes through this,” said Ben, adding that he has also put over 6,000 miles on his car for travel.

And Aliesya’s mom, Leslie Kaminski, also feels blessed by the support received. “It’s amazing that they did this for us,” said Kaminski.

Aliesya’s grandmother, Rhoda Messemer, also talked of the support from Tioga Downs. “I can’t take the cancer away from her,” Messemer said of her granddaughter, “so I contacted Lynn Redder at Tioga Downs to see if we could get some help.” “We never expected that we would get this much,” Messemer added of the close to $13,000 raised.

Messemer also talked of the outpouring around the community for Aliesya, and how a fundraiser at the California Grill in Vestal, N.Y. held in July raised $5,000, and that a benefit planned on Oct. 3 from noon to 7 p.m. at Brother’s Two in Endwell, N.Y. will also serve as a fundraiser. To learn more you can contact Rhoda by calling (607) 760-0096.

And at the Tioga Downs racetrack during the presentation to both of these families, the guests in the grandstands cheered and gave a great round of applause to all those who donated throughout the month of August to assist these families as they continue to fight to keep these two beautiful young girls alive.