Editor’s Note: The following information was posted on the Hugs For Brady Foundation website, hugsforbrady.org, courtesy of Nicole M. Wells of TAPInto.net.
SOUTH BRUNSWICK – This year’s Hugs for Brady Foundation Winter Gala was the most successful to date, raising more than $137,000 to help fight pediatric cancer and support the children who are battling the disease.
Gala Emcees Bert Baron of Greater Media’s 1450 WCTC talk radio and pediatric cancer survivor Lilly Daneman, along with a live band, entertained 400 guests at the Palace at Somerset Park on March 5.
During the night, organization Founder Sherrie Wells spoke of the need to continue the foundation’s work. She and her husband Michael established the foundation in 2009, shortly after their 13-month-old son, Brady Michael, was diagnosed with non-differentiated acute leukemia, a very rare form of leukemia. In 2010, Brady passed away at 23 months old, after he had battled the disease for 10 months.
“Childhood cancer does not discriminate,” Sherrie Wells said. “Boys, girls, children of all ages, races, religions and nationalities – childhood cancer does not discriminate.”
During Brady’s months of treatment, Wells said that she felt like she was not just an oncology mom to her own son but to all kids battling cancer.
“All the children, no matter what type of cancer they have, are extremely special and I could not help but fall in love with each and every one of them,” she said. “Determined to change the world, a childhood cancer or one fundraiser at a time, Hugs for Brady Foundation was born.”
Sheldon Yellen, CEO of BELFOR Holdings, Inc., was honored with the 2016 Hugs For Brady Foundation’s Pediatric Cancer Humanitarian of the Year Award.
“Whether you are a donor or patron or supporter of Hugs for Brady, a family member who has lost a loved one to cancer or a survivor of an incredible feat, I challenge you to always remember to be nice. We need to be nice to each other and we need to share that more often with more people,” Yellen wrote in part of his acceptance letter, though he was unable to attend the gala.
Receiving the Ellen Gambatese Pediatric Cancer Volunteer of the Year Award were Hugs For Brady 5K and Family Fun Run race co-directors David Brockman, Jodi Brywka and Thomas Morris.
As the South Brunswick director of Parks and Recreation, and having known the late Ellen Gambatese, Morris said he felt the honor was twofold.
“Certainly it was such a thrill to be honored in memory of her and, on the other side of the coin, for the Hugs For Brady Foundation,” he said. “It really meant a lot for me and again, you don’t do it for the recognition, but certainly, when you do get recognized, and especially for these two things – for Ellen and for Hugs For Brady – there’s nothing better than that.”
Accepting the Randy Siegel M.D. Pediatric Cancer Medical Humanitarian of the Year award for University Radiology was board certified nuclear medicine radiologist Dr. Murray D. Becker.
During the night, Robert Milligan, Jr. solicited pledges from around the room in various dollar amounts, ranging from $100 to $10,000, to help fund research and provide resources to hospitals and cancer institutions.
Foundation sponsors for this year include The Palace at Somerset Park, Midwood Distributors, ProCure Proton Therapy, Wiss, Wawa, Goddard of North Brunswick and Jersey Physical Therapy.
This year’s friends of the foundation include state Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer), Jeff and Linda Forbes, St. Augustine of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church, On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina, Adcorp Media Group, Hermann Services Inc., Hoffmann and Sons Plumbing and Dr. Valerie McRae.
In addition, Jersey Mike’s Subs will donate 100 percent of sales on its “Day of Giving” March 30 to the Hugs for Brady Foundation for pediatric cancer awareness. Customers can also make donations throughout the entire month at the Shops at Windsor Green location in Princeton, 3495 Route 1 south.
For more information, visit hugsforbrady.org.