NORTH BRUNSWICK — Volunteers are the heroes.
That is what Mike Wells said of the countless number of volunteers that have helped him and his wife Sherrie, of Kendall Park, move closer and closer to their dream of one day seeing the day when pediatric cancer is cured.
Their son, Brady, was born in 2008 and when he was 13 months old, doctors informed the Wellses that Brady had nondisclosed acute leukemia.
“It’s a hideous disease,” said Mike Wells. “When your baby is vomiting everything and he knows when to reach for his barf bucket … you know it’s not supposed to be that way.”
Brady passed away at the young age of 23 months, after six rounds of chemotherapy and a peripheral blood stem-cell transplant in 2010.
Approximately 30 students at North Brunswick Township High School (NBTHS) rocked for Brady during the 28th annual Rock-a-Thon over the weekend from 11 a.m. until 11 a.m., Feb. 23- 24. The 24-hour rocking chair marathon raises money for charities by having students get pledges and then rock the day and night away.
Wells came with a box load of flower bouquets for the students participating in the Rock-a-Thon.
“All I can say is ‘Wow’,” he said of the Rock-a-Thon. “I look at these young kids and I think it’s just wonderful that they are catching the volunteer bug at such a young age.”
Wells said the Hugs for Brady Foundation, in memory of his son, is a volunteer base of more than 250 people. The foundation was established to help children battling cancer and assist in research to ultimately find a cure for pediatric cancer.
Their drive funded a pediatric hematology/ oncology young investigator program at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick and they look to fund a second one.
The third annual Hugs for Brady Twilight 5K and Family Fund Run will be held April 27 at South Brunswick High School. For more information about the foundation, visit www.hugsforbrady.org.
The nonprofit Hugs for Brady Foundation was recommended by Joel Chesler, the co-advisor of the event with teacher Meg Wright. The students also rocked for Operation Jersey Cares and the North Brunswick Food Bank.
Wright said students who raise at least $85 can participate in the Rock-a-Thon. The students watched a video on Hugs For Brady as the event started and then proceed to rock with stacks of movies, electronics, books and other items to keep them busy.
“We also have runners who help and if one needs a drink or something, they are there to get that for them,” said Wright.
Seniors Leigh-Ann D’Alessandro and Christina Reichart, who led the Rock-a- Thon, said around 2 a.m. when they all started getting tired, the students start making care packages for the U.S. troops serving overseas.
“Mr. Chesler suggested Hugs for Brady and we all came on board,” said Reichart. “Every year we pick a charity to raise money for.”
Over the course of the years, the Rocka Thon has raised over $210,000 for charities such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Haitian Relief Fund and more.
Chesler said Michael Torchia started the Rock-a-Thon 28 years ago. Chesler took over as advisor for the event 24 years ago, and Wright said she participated in the event when she attended North Brunswick Township High School and has been serving as advisor with Chesler for the past 11 years.
The students, as of Feb. 23, had raised $4,550. Wright said additional donations came in from a Jeans Day held on Feb. 22.
Chesler said donations will be accepted for the next few weeks. Donation checks can be made out to NBTHS Rock-A-Thon and mailed to the high school, 98 Raider Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902.