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Wilkes-Barre Academy announces kindergarten registration

First Posted: 12/30/2013 <hardreturn>SWOYERSVILLE &#8212; Ken Carey says cancer has made him a better person. <hardreturn>Carey, the 41-year-old co-owner of Tipsy Turtle bar/restaurants in Swoyersville and Jenkins Township, is a cancer survivor. Diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2004 and after undergoing an aggressive treatment program, Carey established a charity &#8212; the Tipsy Turtle Make Life Count Charity &#8212; that has raised $189,000 in nine years. <hardreturn>&#8220;After going through treatment, I think I've learned to appreciate life more,&#8221; Carey said. &#8220;Life is short, so take advantage of what you're given. Things could always be worse.&#8221; <hardreturn>Money raised by the charity goes to the Medical Oncology Prescription Assistance Fund headed by Dr. David Greenwald, Carey's doctor, at his office on Pierce Street in Kingston. <hardreturn>&#8220;The money we raise stays local,&#8221; Carey said. &#8220;It helps people in this area who need help to pay their medical bills.&#8221; <hardreturn>Making a difference <hardreturn>The charity raised $34,000 this year &#8212; a record &#8212; through its annual golf tournament, raffle tickets and by selling Make Life Count wrist bands and t-shirts. <hardreturn>&#8220;Being in the restaurant business, we always are smiling, and we serve people every day in a social setting,&#8221; Carey said. &#8220;But the people in Dr. Greenwald's office do the same. They are always positive and smiling, and they help people every day to deal with sickness. They are amazing people.&#8221; <hardreturn>The Prescription Assistance Fund provides medications to people who otherwise would go without it, helps pay costly insurance co-pays and has even paid for insurance of patients who lost their jobs. <hardreturn>Greenwald said Carey is &#8220;the epitome of a grateful patient.&#8221; He said Carey's efforts have made a significant difference in the lives of many people in the area. <hardreturn>&#8220;Ken has paid back 100 times anything we've done for him,&#8221; Greenwald said. &#8220;He has raised a tremendous amount of money that has been so effective in helping a lot of people.&#8221; <hardreturn>Carey said the mission of the Make Life Count Charity is clear &#8212; to aid local cancer patients with the resources they so desperately need while fighting a deadly disease. <hardreturn>Motivated to help <hardreturn>Carey's mother, Concetta Carey, died in 1990 after a battle with leukemia. Carey said his mom's death and later his personal battle with cancer motivated him to help others. <hardreturn>&#8220;Each year the charity grows,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We have such a great support system &#8212; friends, family, customers, corporate and business partners.&#8221; <hardreturn>Carey, of Exeter, said the raffle tickets sell for $20 each and the top prize offer the winner a Harley Davidson or $10,000 cash. The annual golf tournament is held the first week of August at Sand Springs Golf Club in Drums. <hardreturn>Carey and his partner, Jack Walker, own two Tipsy Turtle restaurants and they are looking to establish a third location. Carey wife, Kari, manages the eateries. The two met after Carey's cancer diagnosis and Kari has been at her husband's side since. <hardreturn>&#8220;We're a family-oriented business,&#8221; he said. &#8220;After what I went through, I just felt I had to do something.&#8221;

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