East Lyme — The communities of East Lyme and Waterford, neighbors and sports rivals, became brethren during this past winter and spring, fighting the fight with the bravest little soul among them, little Maddie Guarraia, whose body eventually succumbed to cancer, but whose spirit lives on in all of us.

And now we have another fight, this time with Meadow Cavanna, 3, of Waterford, who was diagnosed just after her third birthday with acute myeloid leukemia.

There are no words.

But there sure are actions. And it begins now, running through July 30 when the Connecticut Sports Foundation, which helps hundreds of cancer patients every year with basic living expenses and more, unfurls "Cycle Against Cancer," a road race beginning at 9 a.m. at Zen & Now in Niantic.

First, the good news: Meadow is in remission after her first level of treatments. Long way to go, reports Terri Eickel, the Director of Development and Special Events for the Connecticut Sports Foundation, but remission sure beats the alternative.

"The trick is keeping her there," Eickel said.

This is where we become part of the solution. All of us. Cycle Against Cancer is team-based, meaning the Foundation seeks people to form teams and fundraise at least $1,000. Not everyone needs to ride. Just contribute.

"It's really doable," Eickel said. "You can have as many people on your team as you want and so many people have been affected by cancer that most teams absolutely crush that goal."

That means "team" members do what they can: 10 bucks here, 20 bucks there.

Think about Maddie.

Think about Meadow.

Think about how cancer has affected your life.

Ten bucks here.

Twenty bucks there.

Meadow's story: After her third birthday, she had been complaining of hip pain. Her parents took her to Yale, where doctors discovered that her blood had a significantly reduced platelet count. She underwent a bone marrow biopsy, after which the leukemia was found.

Meadow and her mom, Rachel, spent the next six weeks at Yale, while her dad, Casey, took care of older sister Willow, 5. She has endured three rounds of chemotherapy with numerous transfusions, mouth sores, chemical burns and nausea.

"She is so full of life, always with a smile on her face, even after three rounds of chemotherapy," Eickel said. "She loves being outside playing with her sister or her chickens. She loves skiing, hiking, swimming, swinging and biking, everything active and outside."

Meadow is the "ambassador" for Cycle Against Cancer, thus allowing CSF to give the family a larger grant than is typically provided.

The Foundation earns most of its headlines for the annual gala at Mohegan Sun, attracting numerous celebrities. Many people and businesses throughout the region contribute to the event and show up en masse for the dinner, hoping to catch a glimpse of a celebrity. Lest we forget the reason for the dinner. To help people.

Clearly, CSF is much more than a one-night event.

"The dinner is a high ticket event," Eickel said. "Cycle Against Cancer is a chance for regular people to get involved and do what they can to help cancer patients in the community. They can help raise money, participate, volunteer, whatever they can do. It's amazing how people feel the day of the race. Like they're helping in a real way."

Previous "Cycle Against Cancer" events have been in Old Saybrook, where CSF is based. The Foundation's goal is to expand the event into a multi-site event. Imagine that: More sites, more helping.

Little Meadow and her family need to know that we're all with her. With them. Just as we were for Maddie. It's time for all of us to help. Go to cycleagainstcancerzenandnow.org.

See you July 30.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.