'Portraits for Patients' event offers therapeutic art session for cancer patients

More than a dozen Long Islanders battling cancer got the chance to put their fears and worries aside while expressing their artistic abilities.
A "Portraits for Patients" program was held Wednesday by the New York Cancer Foundation in Huntington Station.
Doctors and patients both say painting can have a therapeutic and healing affect.
"When you sit down and you paint, you just get so engrossed that it takes over. There are no worries, no problems," says Claire Marino, of Huntington.
Sponsors say patients currently undergoing treatment were able to participate in the event free of charge.