By JUDY DeHAVEN
Specials are common at the Milagro Spa, but most feature an exotic indulgence: ‘aromatic sugar scrubs,’ ‘stonecrop body wraps’ and ‘facial tea tree oil waxings,’ to name a few.
An event scheduled for Monday, March 2, is special for an entirely different reason: workers at Milagro will be donating everything they earn from 4p to 9p – tips included – to a co-worker in need.
The proceeds will go to Tracy Loessel, a Milagro nail technician and single mother of two who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 blood and bone cancer.
“Every single penny is going to her,” says Danielle DeFalco, a Milagro customer service representative who is helping to organize the event. “Five hours of time is the least we can do.”
The special event, called “Triumph for Tracy,” will also include auctions of a variety of prizes, from singing and art lessons to a bicycle and tickets to a Broadway play.
The event is only the latest in a series of efforts Loessel’s colleagues have undertaken on her behalf.
Every Friday for the past three weeks, employees have held a bake sale – spa style, of course. The cookies are all made by Milagro workers, impeccably decorated and carefully wrapped. They typically sell for $2 a piece. DeFalco says nearly $1,000 has been raised at each sale.
In addition, once a week the workers bring their lunches and donate $10 – about the amount they’d typically spend to order in – to Loessel.
DeFalco says the idea for the fundraisers arose shortly after the staff found out about Loessel’s condition.
Milagro has picked up the cost of LoesselÂ’s health insurance, DeFalco said. But her co-workers wanted to do more to help, especially since LoesselÂ’s 16-year-old daughter also works at the spa.
What makes Loessel’s case even more tragic is she is a breast cancer survivor.
“She got over the breast cancer, and then she found out she had stage 4 cancer in her blood and bones,” DeFalco says. “It’s horrible. And she is the person who will always come to work. She doesnÂ’t talk about it. ItÂ’s like itÂ’s not happening to her.
“SheÂ’s a strong woman,” DeFalco says. “Her world is crumbling, and her work is the only thing that keeps her mind off of it.”
Milagro Spa is located at the Atlantic Club, 325 Maple Avenue (Route 35). The phone number is 732.450.4400.
