This morning in Great Falls, Virginia the Joe Cassella Foundation raised thousands of dollars for a young girl with liver cancer. The Foundation was formed by the Cassella family after Joe’s sad and tragic passing a few years ago. Hundreds of runners including yours truly enjoyed beautiful weather and a great course and then browsed auction items afterwards. Thousands of dollars of donations were given and Frank Cassella, OD, Joe’s brother and a local Optometrist with a large following of patients, gave a wonderful speech about the foundation, the charity event and the little girl Gianna Hess with Hepatoblastoma that is in a struggle for her life. Gianna is the 2012 race beneficiary and all funds raised will be donated to her family and continuing medical care. Several thousand dollars were raised with our gift of a free LASIK procedure to the Foundation. They auctioned it off and some lucky race participant left today with a great value in their procedure costs, and feeling good that the fee they pay go directly to Gianna. WELL DONE to the Cassella Foundation!