In early 2010, Laurie Burgess, a 41-year-old single mother from
Weymouth, passed away after battling breast cancer. She left behind three daughters – Christine, in her early 20’s, Erin, age 13 and Zoie, age 9.  Since their mother passed, Christine has taken on the role of care-giver for her 2 younger sisters. 

Paul Young, with TGA Cross Insurance, Inc., Wake field, a PHCC of MA Associate Member, participated in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day (Boston) “Walk for Breast Cancer”. On the night before the walk, all hotel rooms were sold out so Paul was asked to share a room with Jim Hillman from California. On day 2 of the walk, while climbing Belmont Hill, they noticed a little girl standing on the sidewalk holding a sign encouraging people to “keep walking for a cure”.

Paul and Jim were struck by her presence. Jim took a photo of her and put the picture of “the girl from Belmont Hill” on his back for motivation while participating at a fund raising walk in California.  Kristina Libby, a walker from Massachusetts, saw the photo and told him that she knew the girl and her name was Zoie.  Jim gave Kristina Paul’s contact information and she called him when she returned to Massachusetts.

Paul decided to visit the family and noticed that they were heating the house with electric space heaters.  Their furnace  had not been working for some time. The next day TGA Cross V P Chris Hawthorne sent an email to Tom Theroux, Executive Director of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors of Massachusetts (PHCC of MA) asking for help.  Tom notified local members, and immediately Andy Lyne, President of the association’s South East Mass Chapter, responded.  He quickly determined that the system was beyond repair.  Standing in their basement Andy realized that he was “heavenly” committed to helping Zoie and her sisters.  On Friday, December 23rd, he produced what the girls are calling their “Christmas Miracle”.  Andy, two S E Mass Chapter members, Owen Geogheghan of Sentry Services, Brian MacDonald of Brian MacDonald Plumbing, Heating and AC, and Gerald Graham, Electrical Inspector for the Town of Braintree installed a new high efficiency furnace donated by Matt Hough, Brockton Manager of F W Webb with materials contributed by David Cannistraro of J C Cannistraro, LLC.  Chris Meade of Meade Transport Company removed old units from the basement.  In addition, each of the girls received a Christmas present donated by Friends of Braintree Holiday Event at Marge Crispin Center.

Hugh Kelleher, Executive Director, PHCC of Greater Boston, and TGA Cross have setup a fund to help the family through these tough times.  Donations can be made at Eastern Bank locations as well as online.  To make a donation in person, go to any Eastern Bank in Massachusetts and ask to make a donation to Laurie Burgess Loris Memorial Love Fund.  To donate online (funds are directly linked to the Eastern Bank Account), go to:

https://www.wepay.com/donations/Loris_Memorial_Love_Fund.