Mayor Thomas M. McDermott is once again using his mayoral platform to focus attention on childhood cancer. For many years, the mayor has asked the public to help him raise funds for a Hammond family dealing with a cancer diagnosis. After the fundraising goal has been met, he has his head shaved publicly with city officials and the family in attendance to remind everyone that we are all in this fight together. In 2024 Mayor McDermott was able to double his fundraising goal and is hoping to do the same this year.
In 2025, Mayor McDermott is fundraising for 8-year-old Izabella Angarica. Izabella is a 2nd grader at Lincoln Elementary School. She is a lifelong Hammond resident. On December 26, 2024, Izabella was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia cancer, which is a type of blood cancer that affects the white blood cells. The same week Izabella started her treatment, her stepfather got in a car accident and the family has not had reliable transportation to and from treatments at Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Her mother has to take extra time off from her job to care for Izabella and take her to/from appointments. Due to her diagnosis, Izabella is wheelchair bound from being so weak. One of Izabella’s favorite activities is playing with her 3-year-old brother Jiovanni, which has become harder to do as her cancer progresses. Izabella also loves minibrands and really misses her friends at school.
Mayor McDemott’s fundraising efforts is beginning in earnest and the link to the GoFundMe page is https://gofund.me/3073fbf4 If you are able to donate, please do so because every amount , big or small, is a help to this family. One hundred percent of the money raised will go directly to the Angarica Family for their bills and travel expenses going to and from Chicago. If you are unable to donate at this time—you can still help—please share and encourage people to donate by posting on social media and sharing the GoFundMe link!
If the mayor meets his goal of $15,000, Izabella will be able to come to his office at Hammond City Hall and shave his head! The GoFundMe page will be open until April 18, 2025 Please join us for a live stream on April 11, 2025 at 2pm of Izabella and Mayor Tom on Hammond’s Facebook page or on GoHammond.TV!
