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Post Offices Deliver For Former Clerk

By LAURA FRAZIER

lfrazier@tampatrib.com

Published: December 25, 2008

SEFFNER - Ed Croake rarely called in sick during his 23 years as a clerk with the U.S. Postal Service.

His wife, Dianne, said her 65-year-old husband was "the picture of health" until January, when he was diagnosed with advanced melanoma.

"Now he's fighting for his life," she said.

While her husband underwent a litany of tests, treatments and surgeries this year, Dianne Croake organized a campaign to generate awareness of the disease and funds to help find a cure.

She designed a T-shirt bearing the words, "Mela-No-More" and "Team Croake, searching for a cure." Friends, family members and neighbors in their Seffner community snapped up the shirts to the tune of $2,000. The proceeds were donated to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, which supports cancer research, patient care and education.

"It's a drop in the bucket, but every little bit helps," Croake said.

Ed Croake's former colleagues at post office branches in Brandon and Bloomingdale joined the effort last week. More than 80 co-workers purchased and wore the shirts to work Friday. They also are selling the shirts to the public.

Gloria Hinton, a clerk at the Brandon post office on Oakfield Drive, said employees there just wanted to do something to help the Croakes.

Dianne Croake said she and her husband are touched by the prayers and support of so many friends, family members, co-workers and strangers. She said as long as the researchers are in their labs working on a cure, she and Ed will keep plugging away.

"It's been a rough year, but he's hanging in there," she said. "He's pretty tough."

The shirts sell for $5 in sizes small, medium and large, or $7 for extra-large and larger. For information, visit the post office in Brandon at 1315 Oakfield Drive or call (813) 661-6896.

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523.

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