Coney Island Parachute Jump lit in gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September 9, 2014 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Lit up in all its golden glory, the Coney Island Parachute jump became part of the Go Gold for Cancer effort on Sept. 5.

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Brooklyn’s Eiffel Tower went gold for childhood cancer on Friday.

As hundreds of people watched, the Coney Island Parachute Jump, nicknamed “The Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn,” was bathed in gold light on Sept. 5 as part of the international Gold World Project to raise awareness of the plight of children with cancer.

Following a countdown led by dozens of children, the 250-foot tall Parachute Jump went gold at 8 p.m. The iconic structure has remained colored in gold lights throughout this week, according to Councilmember Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island-Gravesend-parts of Bensonhurst), who said the lighting ceremony was the culmination of an emotional community event that included remarks from several parents of kids with cancer.

Treyger had reached out to Zamperla, the company that owns the Parachute Jump, last month to request the special lighting. The request was made in the wake of the Empire State Building owners’ refusal of a request by a New Hampshire father of a child with cancer to light that building in gold.

“I am incredibly proud of our community and borough for stepping up and taking part in this important effort to raise awareness of childhood cancer. We showed these families that they are not alone and that they have the support of their friends and neighbors from across Brooklyn and New York City. As these families go through unimaginable challenges and incredibly difficult times, they will hopefully know that Brooklyn has their back and is with them every step of the way,” Treyger said in a statement.

The Parachute Jump is one of Brooklyn’s most famous structures. The defunct ride, built for the World’s Fair in New York in 1939, was officially declared a city landmark in 1977, according to the Parks Department website.

Parents of children with cancer were invited to the Parachute Jump ceremony. “Nothing has ever made us prouder of calling Brooklyn our home than seeing the Parachute Drop lit gold, not only in support of kids like Sally battling childhood cancers, but the seven children who die from it daily,” said Bay Ridge resident Matthew Kabel, whose young daughter Sally is battling cancer.

“It was a very inspirational evening as Coney Island went gold via the world famous Parachute Jump. We at Frankie’s Mission are humbled and blessed to have the community stand up for children who fight cancer,” said Camille Orrichio Loccisano, founder of Frankie’s Mission, also known as the Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation. Her son, Francesco Loccisano, died of cancer in 2007 at the age of 17.

Enza Boccuzzi, founder of the Olivia Boccuzzi Foundation, an organization named after her daughter Olivia, said she found the Parachute Jump lighting inspiring. “It was a beautiful and inspiring night as Brooklyn came together in Coney Island to declare that more needs to be done for children diagnosed with cancer,” she said.

Brooklyn Cyclones mascot Peewee was on hand to entertain children and Coney Island resident and NBA star Lance Stephenson stopped by to sign autographs. Assistant Pastor Savone James of Coney Island Gospel Assembly performed the invocation and Margaret Williams sang the National Anthem.

“We are truly grateful that we were able to be a part of last Friday’s event, in which our beloved Parachute Jump was lit up in gold to support Children’s Cancer Awareness Month. Seeing our community come together was inspirational for everyone, and we hope to raise as much awareness as we can for this remarkable cause,” said Fernando Velasquez, general manager of Luna Park in Coney Island.