Newtown Resident Launches Foundation in Memory of Wife

A Newtown resident has launched a new organization to honor the memory of his wife.

Eric Shipon, whose wife Barb passed away in January after battling breast cancer, has launched “Have a Catch for Barb.” The organization will raise money for families with loved ones battling cancer.

Have a Catch for Barb is a national awareness campaign to bring families together while raising money to support those that are dealing with cancer. His goal is for families to go outside at a specific date and time and “have a catch,” symbolically “tossing cancer aside.” 

Shipon, who is the father of two teenage daughters, said “catch” events will begin this spring, including one during the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure on Mother’s Day. 

Barb endured endless treatments, procedures and hospital stays over the past year and the medical expenses have been staggering, making the stress on the family enormous, according to a press release announcing the organization.  “Yet Barb fought and smiled her way through it—even mentoring and cheering on other cancer patients who were newly diagnosed.”

According to the release, Shipon promised his wife he would start a foundation in her honor to help other families cope. “Sadly Barb passed before the foundation was launched, but the Shipon family’s determination is steadfast. Her memory will surely live on through their efforts,” the release said. 

“Barb and our family are very big baseball fans,” Shipon told Patch. So when the time came to start the foundation, they wanted to incorporate the family’s favorite pastime.

“The concept is simple. Have a Catch for Barb and donate money to support families like the Shipons that desperately need it during their darkest days,” the release said. 

Have a Catch for Barb events will be announced in the next few weeks. In the meantime, donations are being accepted through The D’Angelo Foundation at www.thedangelofoundation.org where you can click on “Shipon Family Fund”.

For more information about Have a Catch for Barb, to become a Sponsor, or to set up an event in your community, contact Shipon at 267-886-7566 or by email at eshipon@asitv.com.   All donations are tax deductible under IRS code 501 C-3.