By Susan Manning

Staff writer

Kevin Kane lost his life at 26 years old due to a rare form of cancer directly linked to his childhood days playing near the Nyanza superfund site. 

 Kane, who would have turned 51 last month, pushed for a study to link the cluster of cancers in those who lived around the area close to Nyanza. His mother, Marie, said that study finally happened. It took eight years, but his — and others’ —cancer was directly linked to the site. 

Nyanza was chemical dye company that dumped toxic chemicals into the water and soil near its plant. It was in operation in the late 60s to the late 1970s.

In 2016, a memorial was built to honor those affected by the rare cluster of childhood cancers. It took shape as a healing garden, with stained-glass panels. It sits just beyond the left field fence at the Ashland Middle School baseball field. 

The problem is that a year after its installation, vandals attacked. Now Marie Kane and others want to see the garden restored to its original beauty. 

They need your help.

“It’s meant to be a peaceful place where people go to mediate,” said Marie.

In its current state, however it is not a peaceful place. It has been neglected for years – first because of the vandalism, and then Covid hit.

 Thanks to Lions Club member Julian Doktor, that will soon change.

“Julian contacted me and said he wanted to help rebuild the garden. He used to be a teacher. He’s retired now, but a great guy,” said Marie.

Doktor said he is not new to the garden project. Before the vandalism, The Lions donated a bench donated and “I carried it to its place in the garden,“ he said.

Doktor said after he heard about the vandalism, he wanted to see it for himself.

“I heard about the vandalism and took a walk to look at it. I couldn’t believe how abandoned it looked. The trail was washed out and the stained glass panels were gone,” he said.

The former teacher said his Lions club is always looking for community service projects and he thought this one would be perfect.  

“Marie said she was glad that we would be doing this project,” said Doktor.    

He said the plans to revitalize the garden include landscaping and clean up, and further projects to replace the stained glass panels.

He hopes to have fellow Lions Club members as well as members of the Junior Lions club, the Leos, help out with the landscaping and cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 24.

“Any other community members who can and want to help, are definitely welcome,“ he said. 

To get involved in restoring the Ashland Memorial Healing Garden, reach out to Cara Tirrell 508-808-9938; Dan Borelli 774-505-0311; or Julian Doktor 508-881-4664. Landscaping and cleanup will start at 9 AM on Saturday, Sept. 24.