Large turnout expected for caroling event for 'Team Laney'

Source: Reading Eagle, Pa.儲存Dec. 21--At least a few thousand people are expected to take part in a Christmas caroling event in West Reading on Saturday evening with the singular aim of lifting the spirits of Delaney Brown, a terminally ill, soon-to-be 8-year-old borough girl.West Reading police are bracing for a logistical challenge with the expected influx of participants in Christmas caroling for Laney that could double the borough's population of roughly 4,000, Police Chief Stephen Powell said today."We are trying to anticipate as much as possible the resources we need and get those resources into place," Powell said. "The focus is on Laney and making this event memorable for her."Delaney, whose nickname is Laney, was diagnosed in May with a rare form of leukemia. The local community responded by holding fundraisers to help defray the cost of her family's medical expenses.Laney received five rounds of radiation therapy and on Sept. 19 received a stem cell transplant.On Tuesday, her parents delivered devastating news on the Team Laney page on Facebook: Doctors at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital said their daughter has just days to live.The news went viral over social media.The Facebook page went from than 7,500 likes on Tuesday to more than 25,000 by Thursday afternoon.Her parents brought her home from the hospital today and Friday is her birthday.The Browns through a spokesman declined an interview request.Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital today released a statement in which the Browns asked the media and the public to respect the family's privacy."Our focus is on spending time with Laney and celebrating each moment we have with her," the statement said.Addressing 迷你倉he overwhelming support, the Browns said: "We would like to thank everyone who has expressed love and support for Laney and our family. We are grateful beyond words for the messages of compassion you have shared through social media and other channels. To see the community rally around Laney in the name of cancer awareness means the world to us."According to her parents' Facebook posts, Laney had asked to go on a Disney Cruise through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but her condition won't permit that. She also said she always wanted to meet music superstar Taylor Swift, and supporters said they are doing everything they can to make that happen.Swift, a Wyomissing native, has been on tour this month in Australia.But local supporters promise to grant her one of her bucket list items, which is to have people from the community sing Christmas carols to her in front of her home.About 2,700 people indicated on the event posting on that page that they were planning to attend.West Reading police alone won't be able to handle the logistics.Powell said several other Berks County law enforcement agencies, including the sheriff's department, will be assisting West Reading police Saturday afternoon and evening.Reading Hospital has agreed to allow parking in its Seventh Avenue parking garage for the event, Powell said.A cadre of volunteers will help shuttle people from parking areas.The 400 block of Chestnut Street will be closed to all traffic and parking from 4 p.m.Contact Steven Henshaw: 610-371-5028 or shenshaw@readingeagle.com.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Reading Eagle (Reading, Pa.) Visit the Reading Eagle (Reading, Pa.) at readingeagle.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesself storage