Lights For The Fight
The Fortis Family have always decorated their home for the holidays, but these days, they light up this Fishkill neighborhood for a great cause, fighting breast cancer.
More than 60,000 lights, set to music, illuminate 47 Fairfax Road in Fishkill, and all for a great cause too. The Brielle Grace Breast Cancer Foundation was founded by Dawn Fortis, a 2 time breast cancer survivor, and all proceeds from visitors to the Fortis light show spectacular will go to the foundation.
I drove by the house on my way to pick up my daughter from my parent's house down the street, and knew I wanted to head back to show her, and make a donation. As we approached the house, my daughter started screaming with excitement from the back seat of my car that was now filled with the reflection of the lights. We pulled over and were quickly greeted by one of the family members, who gave my daughter a candy cane, and told us to check it all out. While my little one went nuts over the giant Grinch, Poppy and Olaf inflatables (her favorites of the MANY on display), I then had the opportunity to talk with Dawn herself, who came out to say hello to my daughter and I, and the others passing by the display. We got to talking about how they add more and more to the show each year, and how she already has improvements for next year's spectacular!
Dawn told me about her story, fundraising efforts, and some of the support they were able to provide recently, like making a mortgage payment for someone currently in treatment, and making car payments for another patient. Dawn, who raised $60,000 on her own for various charities and then established the foundation, has since gone on to raise even more for those diagnosed with breast cancer.
The whole display is incredible, covering the entire house, lining the front and side yards, and on the roof, pink breast cancer ribbons remind us about their vision, "to save one life at a time and to help create a breast cancer free world."
The lights and music are on display now at 47 Fairfax Road in Fishkill (near Brinckerhoff Elementary School) through January 6th, weekdays 5:30pm-10pm, and weekends 5:30pm-11pm. Everyone gets a candy cane for visiting, and every time i've driven by in recent years, there are cars lined up with someone from the Fortis Family walking around to say hello.
One of my favorite childhood memories was driving around the neighborhood with my parents and sister, hot cocoa in hand, looking at Christmas lights. This year, I was excited share that tradition with my own daughter, and for a great cause, too.