Norma Zimmerman of East Amwell
My family and I would like to thank everyone that helped to make our pediatric cancer fundraiser, ride4erik, a huge success.
I am so thrilled to say that we raised over $11,000 at our event Sept. 27 this year.
We are so touched by so many family and friends who helped put the event together planning for months ahead.
Our committee consisted of the Gherardi family, the Zimmerman family, the Warwinsky family, the Hoppaugh family, Stephanie Hope, LeeAnn Catanzareti, Karen Rissmiller, Michele Tallman, Tracy McClelland, Jeff Kline, Karen Hepburn, Joe Shramek and George Wallace.
We truly appreciate everyone that came and helped out the day of the event as well. The weather was not great, but it did cooperate until around 4 p.m. so all was well.
We live in such a wonderful community where people really reach out and help one another.
I am so proud to say that we had eight of our area child survivors present at this event. What wonderful brave young children.
Several actually went on the motorcycle ride, and after, Joe Gherardi, Phillip Leiggi and John Monath, who had sidecars, took the rest for rides around the park. How wonderful it was to see the smiles on their faces.
At our afternoon community event, everything was fantastic. The music was all arranged by Jeff Kline, and it was beyond wonderful.
We had the Something Else String Band, Johnny Pompadore, the MoJo Mystics, Rocky & His Friends and Sam Mohl from Even the Odds. Everyone enjoyed the music while eating pulled pork and hot roast beef sandwiches.
Our clown visited the children while many were making crafts. We had vendors and a silent auction.
The most touching ceremony was the balloon launch to honor the memory of all the children that have left us too soon because of cancer.
The success of his whole event would not have been possible without so many people and businesses coming together and giving. We are not likeRelay for Life where we have 20 or 30 teams out raising money. This is just one event that totally relies on the generosity of our area businesses and families to support our efforts.
Everything used at the event was donated so all the money raised goes towards pediatric cancer research and families with a newly diagnosed child.
To everyone, a very heartfelt thank you, and just know that you have made a difference.
We have one more event this year, and that will be a Chinese auction scheduled for Dec. 13 at South Hunterdon High School. The time will be 1 to 4 p.m. with drawing the numbers to begin around 3:30.
We have so many wonderful items donated from many area businesses and restaurants.
After the auction, we will take that money and the $11,000 raised and donate the money to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. There is also money saved to help families in the area with a newly diagnosed child.
Norma Zimmerman
East Amwell

