It’s with great sadness that I report the following…
The Mets will host a fundraiser on Nov. 1 to benefit Shannon Forde, their senior director of media relations who was diagnosed earlier this month with Stage IV breast cancer.
The $100 fundraiser includes a dinner, open bar, cocktail hour and dancing at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, N.J., emceed by broadcaster Ron Darling.
The Mets will also host a $250 meet-and-greet and autograph session with former Mets Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, John Franco, Bobby Ojeda, Edgardo Alfonso, Al Leiter, Ed Charles and Ed Kranepool, as well as New York Giants two-time Super Bowl winner Sean Landeta.
Tickets for either portion of the fundraiser can be purchased separately or together as a package for $300. They are available at hopeshinesforshannon.com, or by contactingDebbie Durante at durantdebbie@hotmail.com or Cindy Santos at tripletmomof3@hotmail.com.
Fans unable to attend can also make monetary donations by mailing checks payable to “Hope Shines for Shannon” to PO Box 3145, Point Pleasant, N.J. 08742.
I first got to know Shannon via a phonecall in 2009. After years of trying to get a press credential for our site the Mets finally got the okay from MLB to make a one-time exception to their no Credentials for Bloggers policy. I was given her name and number, and when I called I was greeted by the sweetest and most courteous person I could have ever imagined.
We sent one of our original MMO writers at the time, David Ponte to represent the site. Shannon was there to greet him, show him the ropes and make him feel at home. “She was absolutely wonderful”, David told me.
He went on to the filed to interview a very young Angel Pagan, Nick Evans, Daniel Murphy and John Maine. Then he met and spoke to then manager, Jerry Manuel. After fielding drills and batting practice it was up to the press box for our very first time and Dave quickly made himself known by sitting in Jay Horwitz’s chair. All the other beat writers knew that, but hey let’s mess around with this greenhorn from Mets Merized Online.
Jay soon entered and looked down at Dave and with a crooked smile said, “I believe that’s my seat”. Everyone shared a laugh. It was breakthrough for us. We were the first independent Mets site to be treated like we were beat writers. Two years would pass until things loosened up and more independent bloggers received that kind of access, but we were once told it was our professionalism that blazed the trail for everyone else.
In all that time, every single game we may have covered, every single interview we brought to you, every single event that we have covered, were all because of Shannon. When I was diagnosed with cancer and some other medical issues, Shannon always asked me how I was in all our correspondence. She’d ask which hospital I was at and what date my surgeries were. She always cared and made me feel special. Everyone at Mets Media Relations have always made me and all our writers and contributers feel special.
When I saw this news posted on Anthony DiComo’s blog, it made me cry. I’m really not a wuss, but it reminded me of the day when I found out I had cancer, and all I could think of was “God, please give Shannon the strength and courage to get through this the way I did.”
I know that someone as special and caring as Shannon, is surrounded by a lot of love from all her family and friends. We have a lot of love for her here too.
I’m going to make a monetary donation to “Hope Shines for Shannon” and send it to PO Box 3145, Point Pleasant, N.J. 08742.
If you love this site and especially all the interviews from myself, Pete, Mike, Clayton, Jim, Joe, and everyone else over the years, please consider a donation. I was lucky, because the Veteran’s Association covered all my medical bills for me. But getting sick is expensive, so send Shannon your prayers, your support, your love, and a small donation if you can. If you can attend the event, do it. Thank you.
Shannon, God Bless you. We are all pulling for you at Metsmerized. We send you our love and prayers. You are a beautiful soul and a wonderful person.
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