Hundreds of carolers gather to support woman with cancer

Carolers sing outside the home of Kathy Alienello in Lebanon on Wednesday, Dec. 16 to show their support for Kathy, who is battling cancer, and her family.

David Moodie Carolers sing outside the home of Kathy Alienello in Lebanon on Wednesday, Dec. 16 to show their support for Kathy, who is battling cancer, and her family.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Mike Alienello videos as his sons Andrew and Christian and his wife Kathy listen to carolers perform in their front yard on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The carolers gathered at the Alienello home to show their support for Kathy, who is battling cancer.

David Moodie Mike Alienello videos as his sons Andrew and Christian and his wife Kathy listen to carolers perform in their front yard on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The carolers gathered at the Alienello home to show their support for Kathy, who is battling cancer.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer 9:45 AM Friday, December 18, 2009

LEBANON — Their cheeks were red and their noses were nearly frozen, but the people who filled the front yard of Kathy and Mike Alienello’s house were warm by something far more powerful than the tiny candles they held in their hands.

Close to 400 people huddled Wednesday, Dec. 17, in the Alienello’s yard and spilled out onto their curvy street in the Countryside subdivision to support the ailing family with a joyous round of Christmas carols that could be heard from blocks away. As the verses of “The First Noel” and “Away in a Manger” filled the crisp night, a peaceful calm settled over the neighborhood.

Kathy Alienello was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and the carolling, the brainchild of the small women’s group she belongs to at Lebanon Presbyterian Church, was a means to show the support of her church and community. It grew into something bigger than the organizers could have possibly imagined.

“I had no idea it would become like this,” said Laura Gerald, one of the chief organizers. Gerald began organizing carolers just two days before, but a chain of e-mails and word-of-mouth amongst friends , co-workers, and fellow church members swelled the support.

“We just wanted to do something to show (the Alienello’s) that the community is supporting them and cheer them up this season,” Gerald said.

“You guys are awesome,” Alienello said as she stood on her porch with her husband and their two children, Andrew and Christian.

She said she was alerted to the surprise caroling outbreak when her children told her “there were people in the yard with candles.”

Kathy said she is confident she can overcome cancer.

“I’m just shocked and surprised,” Alienello said. “Everyone is praying for me and I’m not giving up.”

In a season tarnished with crass commercialism and backbreaking stress, the caroling reminded each participant of a different reason for the holidays — one of family and love.

“It’s overwhelming,” Kathy said after the carolers wrapped. “I don’t know of anyplace in the world that would do something like this.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.

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