Our Infinite Love Team
"We rise up by lifting others." - Robert Ingersoll
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Andrea Verdone Gorsegner, Founder/President Prior to her (then) 3-year-old daughter Natalie Grace’s leukemia diagnosis, Andrea had been a photography editor in the world of magazines for over ten years having worked for such titles as In Style, Lucky and Women’s Health magazines. Upon her daughter’s diagnosis she walked away from the editorial world in order to care for Natalie full-time. Like most parents in her situation, Andrea felt powerless in her daughters fight against cancer, so as a means of gaining some control she began immersing herself in all things childhood cancer related, quickly discovering that not only is it the number one disease killer of our children, but also that research for childhood cancer specifically is grossly underfunded. Approximately six months into Natalie’s treatment Andrea began fundraising, through her Infinite Love Facebook page, for The Truth 365 (Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation) where in four short years, and with the help of her online community, she managed to raise over a half of a million dollars for the foundation (where every penny went towards childhood cancer research). In addition to fundraising, she also assisted the foundation on events and projects along with |
securing their first celebrity spokesperson, news journalist Lisa Ling and in 2014 received the Arms Wide Open “Humanitarian Award.”
Through Infinite Love, a registered 501(c)(3), Andrea continues to tirelessly fundraise and advocate on behalf of childhood cancer research and the families that childhood cancer effects. She travels to give speeches in an effort to raise more awareness, has been covered by national media sources, was the Executive Producer on the award-winning music video “Fighter,” and has been the recipient of the “Point of Light” award and the “Innovators Award” (from BioNJ). While fundraising is a huge part of Andrea’s day-to-day life, she is also deeply involved in the pediatric cancer community on a personal level as she makes herself available to oncology parents all hours of the day.
Today, Andrea’s daughter Natalie is a healthy 8-year-old child and loves nothing more then lazy days playing with her big sister, and childhood cancer advocate, Hannah Rose. While Andrea acknowledges the luxury of her daughter’s survival, there is no going back to the life that she once knew prior to Natalie’s diagnosis as she’s seen too much. “Natalie’s fight might be over, but until there’s a cure for these kids our fight will never stop.” Click here to learn more about Natalie's journey.
Through Infinite Love, a registered 501(c)(3), Andrea continues to tirelessly fundraise and advocate on behalf of childhood cancer research and the families that childhood cancer effects. She travels to give speeches in an effort to raise more awareness, has been covered by national media sources, was the Executive Producer on the award-winning music video “Fighter,” and has been the recipient of the “Point of Light” award and the “Innovators Award” (from BioNJ). While fundraising is a huge part of Andrea’s day-to-day life, she is also deeply involved in the pediatric cancer community on a personal level as she makes herself available to oncology parents all hours of the day.
Today, Andrea’s daughter Natalie is a healthy 8-year-old child and loves nothing more then lazy days playing with her big sister, and childhood cancer advocate, Hannah Rose. While Andrea acknowledges the luxury of her daughter’s survival, there is no going back to the life that she once knew prior to Natalie’s diagnosis as she’s seen too much. “Natalie’s fight might be over, but until there’s a cure for these kids our fight will never stop.” Click here to learn more about Natalie's journey.
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Jim McCaffrey, Executive Director
Jim is the father of three beautiful children, Mia, James and baby Miles. James has a kind heart at his core, because locked within it will always be the memory of his beautiful, spunky, and caring sister Mia. In 2016, life as they knew it for the McCaffrey family changed. Marian, Jim’s wife, was giving Mia and James their nightly bath, after a day filled with fun, when she noticed a bump on Mia’s cheek. She called Jim in and the two knew something was wrong. On March 18th, 2016, Jim, Marian, Mia, and James learned of Mia’s diagnosis with Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mia began treatment that same weekend at the Smilow Cancer Center in Yale New Haven Hospital. She was a warrior, James was consistently by her side, and Marian and Jim used the strength of their bond and relationship to become the parents they never imagined they would have to be. Mia’s fight took a turn in the fall of 2016 when another spot was discovered on her lung. It became clear that her cancer was spreading, despite the rounds of treatment she was on. Mia, James, Marian, and Jim didn’t stop fighting though. Mia began receiving treatments at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the family invested in creating hope. |
The challenge with hope is that it can inspire, it can help to create change, it can be a gift that one person can give to another, but it cannot kill cancer. Mia had hope until the end, all of the McCaffrey’s did and they still do now. On March 17th, 2017, Mia passed away with her right hand in Marian’s hands and her left hand in Jim’s. They were together in the end. In the eulogy that Jim delivered with Marian and James at his side, he said, in the letter he had written to Mia for the occasion, “I promise you Mia that I will bleed and fight for you and other innocent children put in your situation.”
Jim comes to Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer as a fighter, as an advocate, and as a human that is not willing to accept where we are now. He has a responsibility to use the story of his life, and his families’ life to create meaningful change. His background as a High School English Teacher, Cross Country/ Outdoor Track and Field Coach, and firefighter provide him with life experience, a captive audience, and opportunity. He is excited to partner the initiatives his family has led and looks to make Connecticut (and beyond) aware of the work being done by Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer. He stands poised and ready to #MakeItAmazing.
Jim comes to Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer as a fighter, as an advocate, and as a human that is not willing to accept where we are now. He has a responsibility to use the story of his life, and his families’ life to create meaningful change. His background as a High School English Teacher, Cross Country/ Outdoor Track and Field Coach, and firefighter provide him with life experience, a captive audience, and opportunity. He is excited to partner the initiatives his family has led and looks to make Connecticut (and beyond) aware of the work being done by Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer. He stands poised and ready to #MakeItAmazing.
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Jeana Bloodgood
Jeana was raised in Middletown, NJ and earned her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac College (now Quinnipiac University) in Hamden, CT. She has worked as a physical therapist at Riverview Medical Center, part of the Hackensack Meridian Health System, since starting with them in 1996. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist and is part of the team working to establish an oncology rehabilitation navigation program at Riverview Medical Center to better serve the local oncology population. In 2007 an ad for St. Jude's stating "be thankful for the healthy children in your life and give to those who are not" hit home after a brief leukemia possibility tied to another diagnosis arose with her youngest child. When the opportunity to work with Andrea and Infinite Love for Natalie Grace arose, she has been involved ever since. Her many years of experience working on her children's school fundraisers has given her experience in event planning and fundraising coordination that continues with her role with Infinite Love For Kids Fighting Cancer. Jeannine Burns
Jeannine joined the Infinite Love Team after volunteering for many events. Jeannine grew up in Lyndhurst, NJ and moved to Middletown 15 years ago with her husband, who is a Middletown native. Jeannine witnessed firsthand the effects of cancer due to her mother’s battle with lung and uterine cancer and is now cancer free. She also knows the heartache of losing a child. Jeannine felt she needed to help children, in memory of her own, and found the perfect opportunity with Infinite Love. Jeannine’s work experience as a bookkeeper/administrative assistant will help Infinite Love and Steve with business financials, insurance, etc. Jeannine has also worked with Jeana for several years at their children’s school running fundraisers and event planning. Jeannine was PFA treasurer for three years at the school. Jeannine is looking forward to helping Infinite Love help more children Susannah Haesche
Susannah is a native of Marblehead, MA. She studied graphic design at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY and launched her career as a designer at PlutoMedia (Patrick Mitchell's Rockport, MA studio) where she designed publications such as Tango, Success, Cooking Light, Kiplinger's, DirecTV, Nylon, 02138 and Brides: Honeymoons and Weddings Away. After art directing at Boston Magazine and its subsidiaries (Boston Weddings, Boston Home and New England Travel) Susannah moved to NYC to design at O, The Oprah Magazine and Women's Health. She is currently the Design Director at Cosmopolitan. Throughout her career, Susannah's work has been recognized by the Society of Publication Designers. Freelance clients have included Sterling Point Books, US Sailing, True North Yachts, Sparkman & Stephens Yacht Design, and UKHalsey Sailmakers. Rachael Kanapka
Rachael Kanapka experienced childhood cancer from a different perspective. Her younger brother David was diagnosed with thymoma at at 8, in 1988. Despite multiple courses of radiation & chemotherapy, as well as surgery to remove a cancer-ridden lung, David passed away in 1992 at age 12. About 15 years later, after working in the marketing world for Boston-area startup Upromise, Rachael traded in the office to be a full-time mom in 2006 when her twins Anna and Kate were born. They were soon followed by a third daughter, Ellie, in 2009. Not long after, Rachael, her husband Bob, and their three girls moved back to her childhood hometown of Middletown, NJ. When her two oldest daughters were in first grade, Rachael saw Hannah Gorsegner's name on one of their class lists. She recognized her as the sister of Natalie Grace, the local childhood cancer fighter she had heard about and donated to. Rachael reached out to Andrea, explained her own connection to childhood cancer, and offered to help. She started by running fundraisers at the girls' elementary school, and bit by bit became more involved with Infinite Love. |
Rachael also got to meet and work closely with Steve Lunanuova when she served as co-president of RAGE (Residents Against Giant Electric) from 2016-2018 and fought the construction of high voltage power lined that would have caused devastating consequences to their community, including increased risk of leukemia and other health issues for people living nearby.
Rachael is proud to put her marketing background to work for Infinite Love, to honor her brother David by helping childhood cancer fighters survive to reach adulthood like they deserve, and like he should have.
Rachael is proud to put her marketing background to work for Infinite Love, to honor her brother David by helping childhood cancer fighters survive to reach adulthood like they deserve, and like he should have.
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Stephen Lunanuova
Steve helps the Infinite Love team with our 501(c)(3) status. He is a life long native of Middletown where he currently lives with his wife Kristin and two daughters (Sabrina and Audrina). He has an accounting degree from Rider University, a Masters in taxation from Seton Hall and is a CPA. He is also the Treasurer of Residents Against Giant Electric (RAGE), a grassroots nonprofit group challenging the construction of hazardous transmission lines through parts of Monmouth County. As a matter of fact, it was through this fight that Steve and Infinite Love met. After he heard about Infinite Love from a speech Hannah had given at a RAGE public hearing about the links between hazardous EMF’s and childhood cancer on children and her sister Natalie’s fight he introduced himself and wanted to learn more about what Infinite Love represented. Lucky for us he liked what he heard and asked if we were in need of a Treasurer (which was the very role that we were trying to fill at the time). His first act was to establish us as a recognized 501(c)(3) with the IRS...check and check! |
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Emily Nikoo
Emily joined the Infinite Love Team in 2019 after meeting Andrea at a gathering of amazing non-profit organizations in Monmouth County NJ. She experienced firsthand the struggle of being a caregiver in the fight against cancer. Her husband and college sweetheart Nez was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in 2016. After being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in NY, Nez is now a cancer survivor. Nez and Emily have two grown children (Neeve & Misha) who followed their parents Purdue (and engineering) footsteps. Her professional journey began in the space program and then cable television, media & entertainment. After years of being a caregiver for her father, and then Nez, Emily formed “The Nikoo Group” to help drive healthcare innovation, particularly in patient experience. She joined the MSKCC Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality to help projects and committees include the patient and caregiver voice in their initiatives. Emily has her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and Masters of Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston. |
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Linda Verdone
Linda was raised in South Philadelphia before moving to New Jersey at 21. She is a mother to three amazing adult children (Jason, Jeremy and Andrea) whom she considers her friends and her greatest life's achievement. Most of Linda's career was working at Rohm and Haas Specialty Chemical Company in Philadelphia. Here last position was as a Tax Specialist in the International Tax Dept. She retired in 2007 to become a full-time "Giggy" (AKA grandmother) to help care for her "bevy of beauties" (AKA granddaughters) Madison, Isabella, Gabriella, Hannah, and Natalie. These days, Linda is an avid advocate for Childhood Cancer raising awareness and raising funds for research. |
Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer, Inc., is 100% volunteer based and is a registered 501(c)(3) corporation.
All donations are tax deductible under current IRS rules and regulations regarding deductions to the fullest extent of the law.
All donations are tax deductible under current IRS rules and regulations regarding deductions to the fullest extent of the law.
