CORTLANDT -- When Luz Fernanda Corona’s mother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2007, the then 18-year-old college student had difficulty being so far away from home when her mother was so sick.

“Every time I’d come home from school, you could see how much sicker she was,’’ said Corona, who shares the same name as her mother. “It was very hard, but now she is going into her fourth year in remission and I think she’s in the best shape she has ever been.’’

A marketing assistant at Hudson Valley Hospital Center, Corona, now 22, said that she wants to give back to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for helping her mom and family over a rough patch. Before she can get to San Francisco to run the grueling Nike Women’s Marathon on October 16, Corona has another hurdle to overcome: raising the money. To raise money for the research and the pay for the trip, Corona will be holding “Jingle Bell July,” a Christmas-themed fund raising event complete with Christmas tree and mistletoe. The event, hosted by The Division Street Grill in Peekskill, will take place on Tuesday, July 12, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Corona hopes to raise $3,200. Most of it will go to fund cancer research. The elder Corona, who works in the radiology department at Hudson Valley Hospital Center, said that this is her daughter’s way of showing support. “From the first time she heard about this (race) she was very excited,’’ said Corona’s mother. “Because she was so far away in school she couldn’t be there when I was in treatment so I think this is her way of paying it back. I’m very proud of her.’’

Hudson Valley Hospital Center President John Federspiel said the Corona family’s battle with lymphoma became a hospital-wide cause after Luz Maria was diagnosed. The entire Corona family works at the hospital, including Luz Maria, her husband Roberto and the two children, Luz and her younger sister Cynthia. “The Corona family is part of our family here at Hudson Valley Hospital Center and we have all been very supportive of their efforts,’’ said Federspiel. “We encourage our employees to become involved in the community and we are very proud of Luz.’’

Corona was a sprinter on the track team at Walter Panas High School but said she’s not accustomed to running long distances, She has been training with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society once a week and runs on her own in the mornings or evenings at least three times a week. She’s now up to six miles. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training has trained nearly half a million runners, walkers, triathletes, cyclists and hikers and has raised over $1 billion to fund cancer research. Over the course of several months, certified coaches organize weekly group runs to prepare competitors for the event. Each participant is also assigned a mentor to offer assistance in fundraising.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Cortlandt and receive free news updates.