Saratogians Vie for Visionary of the Year

Photos of Saratoga Springs Police Lieutenant Angela McGovern and Chef Noah Frese via Blood Cancer United’s Visionary of the Year Albany.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Lieutenant Angela McGovern of the Saratoga Springs Police Department and Chef Noah Frese, of Noah’s Italian and Siro’s fame, are both vying for Blood Cancer United’s Visionary of the Year honor for the Albany area.

Visionary of the Year is a 10-week philanthropic challenge. Each of the ten candidates is tasked with forming a fundraising team that will compete to earn the most donations between the dates of March 6 and May 15. The funds will be used by Blood Cancer United to support patients and their families, support research efforts and clinical trials, and advocate to break down barriers to accessing care.

“When I was nominated to do this, I instantly thought of a few people: One is my grandmother, who has multiple myeloma, and the other is retired Troy Police Sergeant Jim O’Brien, who lost his life to blood cancer,” McGovern wrote to Saratoga TODAY. “Our law enforcement officers spend most of their lives sacrificing for others and deserve to live long, healthy retirements. Jim was only 47 years old and had been in law enforcement from 1984 until 2010, when he had to retire due to his illness. He would pass away in December of that same year.”

“I want to use this opportunity and this campaign to show the local community who police really are,” McGovern continued. “We are kind-hearted, caring, and compassionate people who truly love and want to protect our little slices of the world.” 

McGovern’s fundraising efforts include several local events, such as the Big Hole Golf Tournament at the Saratoga Lake Golf Course on May 9, and a “Jail for Bail” event during which McGovern will build cells at the Saratoga Springs City Center and arrest some local “VIPs” who will have to bail themselves out before the other cellmates.

Those interested in supporting McGovern’s fundraising campaign can follow along with her Instagram account (@inpursuitofacure) or her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/inpursuitofacure).

In his Visionary of the Year profile, Chef Noah Frese detailed the impact that cancer has had on his busy life, much of it spent in kitchens. 

“This past fall, I lost my Mimi to cancer,” Frese wrote. “She was my inspiration, always there to support me and make sure I had every opportunity in life. Losing her made me realize how precious health and time are and how important it is to fight for a future where no family has to endure the pain of this disease. Now, as a father, I feel an even deeper purpose to help find a cure, so that children like my own can grow up healthy and full of opportunities.”

To support Frese’s campaign, visit pages.lls.org/voy/uny/alb26/nfrese.