CYSTIC FIBROSIS TELETHON...

Toni Taglieri, daughter of the late painter Willie Taglieri, and vendor at the New Bern Farmer's Market, will create an original painting during her seventh Cystic Fibrosis telethon.

“I do a painting every year from noon until midnight on a blank canvas, two by three feet, with supplies provided by Art and Material and Ballantyne Framing,” Taglieri said.

Taglieri is carrying on a tradition her father created, as he was dedicated to painting for the tele-thon for 22 years until his death in 2002.

“Even my father’s last year, in 2002 when he has lung cancer, he was determined to do the tele-thon, then two days later he went back to hospital,” Taglieri said.

Every year, Taglieri makes a sketch of what she wants to paint at the telethon and has been sell-ing raffle tickets for it since the beginning of July at the New Bern Farmers Market. The painting she will create during the telethon will be up for bid for its duration.

“I usually do something coastal, and this year I painted two trollers in downtown Oriental. I usu-ally do something within the viewing area of Channel 12,” Taglieri said.

Though Taglieri doesn’t like the spotlight on herself, she participates in the telethon because she understands how important finding new treatments or a cure for cystic fibrosis can be.

“There’s a lot of great music and great talent. Every hour to 45 minutes, the hosts stop by to see my progress. It’s different than working at home. … I always get nervous because I don’t like to be on TV, but I look forward to it because it’s a good cause,” Taglieri said.

Taglieri’s family also shows up every year to give its support and ease her nerves.

“The telethon always falls on or around my brother’s or mother’s birthday, so the whole family comes down to see me because they’re in town,” Taglieri said. “My brother-in-law also participates in the telethon… it’s like a family affair. Once you get involved, you stay involved.”

Taglieri said last year’s painting and sketch fetched $4,000 and that she and her father have raised more than $100,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“I have known several children throughout the years who have been affected by cystic fibrosis, and they have such short life expectancies. But with the foundation, now they can live longer.… This year, two young ladies received lung transplants. It’s good to know all the work we are doing is working,” Taglieri said.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is in the top 200 largest U.S. charities, according to Forbes.com. Also, 89 percent of the proceeds go to charitable services, 9 percent goes to fundraising and 2 per-cent goes to management and other costs, according to Forbes.com.

Taglieri will be selling raffle tickets for the sketch from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Papous Olive Oil stand at the New Bern Farmers Market. For raffle tickets of the sketch, call (252) 638-8028 or visit the Papous Olive Oil stand.