Clockwise from top: Krysten Fegel throws out the first pitch during the fifth annual Guns & Hoses softball game, which will help her family pay expenses as her 6-year-old son, Brett, battles cancer. T.J. Sarka slaps the hand of his brother Jeff while rounding third after hitting a home run for the firefighters’ team. Krysten Fegel gives a kiss to East Brunswick Patrolman Jim Angermeier for his volunteer work. East Brunswick police officers Charlie Bobol (l) and Frank Sutter go deep for a fly ball. The game, pitting East Brunswick police against firefighters and first aid volunteers, raised more than $19,000. EAST BRUNSWICK – When the call went out to help a local family with a 6-yearold boy battling cancer, the community answered. In a big way.
“Awesome, absolutely phenomenal,” is how East Brunswick Patrolman Jim Angermeier summed up the generosity and enthusiasm of residents, business owners and volunteers who donated and assisted with the recent Guns & Hoses softball game, which benefited the Fegel family, of East Brunswick.
Since being diagnosed with brain cancer last year, Brett Fegel, 6, has endured numerous surgeries and hospital stays, and is now recovering from his two most recent surgeries at Hackensack University Medical Center. Brett’s father, Fred also battled cancer over the past two years, and remains unemployed as he cares for his son. Brett’s mother, Krysten, works as a pharmacy technician, providing the family with its limited health insurance.
The annual charity softball game, which pits East Brunswick police officers against its volunteer firefighters and Rescue Squad members, helps a different local family in need each year. As usual, the Guns crushed the Hoses on the diamond, though there seemed to be some hope at first. After Krysten Fegel threw out the first pitch, the firefighters got off to a 1-0 start with a homerun from Brett’s uncle, T.J. Sarka. But by the end of the inning the score was 18- 1, cops on top.
However, there was a surprise in store this year, in terms of an unprecedented bottom line.
“We raised over $19,000, which is outstanding. I was hoping for $10,000,” Angermeier said. He recalled his surprise when, about halfway through the game, Patrolman Brian Brownlie and dispatcher Lorraine Wallace came up to him with the good news.
“They said we had hit the $15,000 mark. My eyes were bulging out of my head,” he said.
Much of the money came through raffle ticket sales. In addition to the 50/50, there were plenty of prizes to go around, including a three-day cruise, electronics and restaurant gift cards. Local business owners came up big, Angermeier noted.
“No matter what business I walked into looking for a donation, there was no hesitation, it was ‘What do you need?’ We wound up with 45 prizes, and a lot of the bigger ones were won by people who were at the game,” he said.
One of the greatest moments, Angermeier noted, was when they went to draw the 50/50 prize of $2,500. Krysten did not want the pressure of picking the big winner, and asked Angermeier to do it. He pulled out a ticket that said, simply, “Jonathan.” After calling out the name and getting no answer, Krysten realized it was Brett’s uncle, who quickly came up, took the envelope of money and handed it right over to Krysten.
PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff The night ended on a high note as well, when many of the participants headed to the VFW on Cranbury Road for unlimited food and drinks, courtesy of the Coolhill family.
Fred Fegel said the family was overwhelmed by the support, and grateful to the many people who came out and donated. He
said he had hoped to attend, but could not due to a setback Brett suffered a week before the game. Brett is now at Hackensack, recovering from back-to-back surgeries last week involving plastic surgery on the back of his head, and a tracheotomy that the family hopes will be temporary. In the coming weeks, he is expected to be transferred to a children’s hospital in New Brunswick before being sent home.
Fred was particularly thankful to Angermeier and officer Sean Taulane, the police and fire departments and the Rescue Squad.
“We’re definitely overwhelmed with the donations and everything that everyone has done … family and friends and the people in town, and everyone who donated to us. It’s a really a big help and it carries a long way,” he said. “Everyone has a big heart, and it all stems from officers Angermeier and Taulane.”
Fred also thanked the Coolhills for donating the hall and the food and drinks.
“They’ve always been outstanding, and have stayed in contact with our family, always trying to help out,” he said.
Looking back, Angermeier said, he’s not only pleased with the amount of money raised to help the Fegel family at least pay their dayto day expenses, but the game was a good day for the community to interact with their emergency service professionals. A crowd of more than 500 turned out, and got to see their bravest, with a team of about 50, and finest, who had 18 players, have some laughs on the ball field.
Most importantly, the town stepped up to help a family in a time of need.
“The night was just awesome,” Angermeier said. “The community itself, and friends and family members, people from different schools and workplaces, the outpouring [of support] was outstanding.”
To make a donation, contact officers Angermeier or Taulane at 732-390-6969, visit the PBA Web site at www.PBA145.com, or write a check to the Brett Fegel Fund and mail it to East Brunswick PBA Local 145, Attn: Guns & Hoses Game, P.O. Box 4, East Brunswick, NJ, 08816. Donations made to the family through the PBA are tax deductible.