A heartbreaking loss is inspiring a growing movement of hope in Westchester.

More than 200 people are gathering Sunday at Oakland Beach in Rye for the annual Angel Walk, an event created in memory of 12-year-old Michael Maffei, who died after a battle with cancer in January 2025.

Family members, friends and supporters are spending the day walking along the waterfront, raising money and awareness for families facing pediatric cancer. Organizers say the funds help cover many of the costs that insurance often does not, including treatment-related expenses, travel costs, and in some cases, funeral expenses.

For Michael’s family, the event is a way to transform the support they received during his illness into help for others navigating similar challenges.

“My son passed away from cancer. This was January 2025,” said Michael Maffei’s father. “During his battle with cancer, a lot of people helped us out — friends, family, local people, the community. We’re just paying it forward. Other families going through what we went through, fighting cancer, we help them out with funeral expenses or any expenses they have with treatment.”

Organizers say participation in the Angel Walk continues to grow each year, reflecting both the impact Michael had on those around him and the community’s commitment to supporting families during some of life’s most difficult moments.

To learn more about this cause, you can visit the Saint Michael's Angels Children's Foundation website.