Benefit Concert Honors Briarcliff HS Grad

Family and friends gathered at in Pleasantville to honor former student Demetri Demeropoulos at the second annual With Demetri’s Help Benefit Concert yesterday.

Demeropoulos, who lost his battle with cancer last spring, was a 2009 BHS graduate who touched many lives in the community.

At only 18-years-old, friends said Demeropoulos was full of life, played varsity lacrosse and varsity hockey in high school and loved spending time with family and friends. 

On June, 14, 2010, With Demetri’s Help was founded by Katie Lynch and Rachel Goldman. Lynch and Goldman are working together to keep Demetri’s spirit alive, as well as help others in need.

"Demetri had the most infectious smile and only wished to make those around him happy," reads the With Demetri's Help website.

As the Demeropoulos’ neighbor and recent Northwestern University graduate, Lynch explained she wanted to “start a group to help by collecting unused medical supplies to families."

"[The Demeropoulos family] is a stunning example of what family is about,” said Lynch.

As a result of collecting goods, With Demetri’s Help has been able to provide medical supplies not only locally, but abroad in health clinics in Nicaragua and Tanzania.

Goldman was Demeropoulos’ classmate and after his passing, said she “wanted to help raise awareness and funds for spinal cord and brain tumor research."

With similar goals in mind, the pair formered With Demetri’s Help, a non-profit organization that both donates medical supplies and helps fund spinal cord tumor reasearch at John Hopkins University.

At the benefit yesterday evening, Demeropoulos' friends and classmates provided entertainment by performing on the stage for guests.

Attendees were also asked to make a donation that “goes to Dr. George Jallo, a spinal cord surgeon and neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD," according to Goldman.

"He treated Demetri during his two-and-a-half year battle with cancer," she revealed, adding the funds will go straight to research and help find a cure for others in need.

Demeropoulos is remembered for finding the good in any situation, no matter how bad, and his family and friends will continue to celebrate his life.

For those who were unable to attend the benefit, there will be a blood drive at the  tomorrow, August 6 from 10 a.m.—2:30 p.m.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to With Demetri's Help, please make checks payable to "With Demetri’s Help" and mail to 16 Crest Dr., Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510.