About us

My name is Alyssa Lavelle, President of the Pat M. Tallini Foundation. In October of 2007, I lost my mother, Patricia Tallini, to a battle with colon cancer roughly five years after her diagnosis.  Throughout her time in and out of doctors’ offices and treatment centers she met people along the way that touched her heart and desperately needed help.  My mother was a public school teacher so thankfully she had great health insurance and the cost of treatment wasn't a burden on her or our family, but there were many people she met that weren't as lucky.  While sick and struggling on her own, she decided she wanted to start holding small fundraising events to be able to help these people she had grown to know and care about.  I will never forget the feeling of awe and admiration as a teenager when seeing my mother, who was struggling herself, decide that she needed to help the people around her.  She was able to hold two very small events, one at a local restaurant and one at a nearby bowling alley to raise money and was in the process of incorporating her foundation when her health took a turn for the worse and she was unable to continue.  Since then, I have always wanted to continue on in her spirit.

This foundation is a tribute to her, and all those that have lost their battle with colorectal cancer.