Firemen And Police Set To Tip-Off For Ailing Resident
Basketball Game Will Pit Firefighters Against Cops, All To Benefit One Of Jackson's Own
By Keith Hagarty
For Jackson's firefighters and police officers, it's that time of the year to lace up the high top sneakers, perfect the rainbow three-point shots and work on those confounding crossover dribbles as their second Annual Charity Basketball Game gets underway on Saturday, April 14.
At least a dozen firefighters and over a dozen police officers will be participating in the game to be held at Jackson Memorial High School at 6:30 p.m. to benefit JoAnn Edley. A long- time resident of Jackson with children in the school district, Edley owns a dance studio in town, teaching hundreds children during her time in Jackson.
Now it's the community's turn to give back to her and her family in her time of need, said police school resource officer John Pejoski.
"Mrs. Edley is a positive role model and a respected member of our community," said Pejoski. "Mrs. Edley has been stricken with Wegner's Granulomatosis, a rare disease affecting her blood, in which her organs are subsequently damaged."
With family roots and community involvement deep in his blood, Marty Fleming of the Whitesville Volunteer Fire Company, has known Edley for years, as she's been a valued customer at his family-owned hardware business.
"She's a local businesswoman and very well known," said Fleming, who only recently learned of Edley's illness.
"Who wouldn't want to do something to help out?" he said. "You do what you can. If this is one way we can help out, then great, and if there's more ways we can help her and her family out, we'll definitely pursue those as well."
Holding a fundraiser can often have greater lasting effects for everyone involved, said Fleming.
"Nobody likes to go out and beg for money," he said. "So when you can provide something fun where people will come out and buy tickets to watch, and you can get more people involved, you can get more of the township involved, and they feel they're doing something good and donating to a good cause."
The police and firefighters have held numerous charity sporting events to help residents in need, with this year's basketball game resurrected after plans fe.l through last year. Fleming is happy to have it back.
"The plan (for charity basketball game) fell through last year, but we're really looking forward to this one," said Fleming. "We do the annual football game, so it's just a carryover, trying to keep doing something good for the community."
When reminded of the police victory in their charity football game held in the fall of last year, Fleming pointed to the firefighters overall winning record.
"They may have beaten us in football, but we're still up 2 to 1," Fleming said of the friendly sporting rivalry. "So we're going to hold our record high, and keep our chins up."
"The last basketball game we played (against the police), we routed them," said a joking, yet confident Fleming.
And what basketball game would be complete without a little dose of trash-talking to keep things lively?
"I guess we can say that (police officer) Fred Meabe has been getting a couple new recruits this year," Fleming. "We'll leave it at that, but they (the police) know what I'm talking about."
With all kidding aside, Fleming believes the combined efforts of both departments can only benefit the entire community, and help Edley and her family in any way they can.
"It's a lot of fun," he said. "It helps build the camaraderie between the two departments- the fire departments in town and the police department- it's really good."
Admission to the game is $5, with elementary school students and younger children admitted for free. For more information about the event, please contact Pejoski at 732- 928-111, ext. 2243, or email him at jpejoski@ jackson.k12.nj.us. |
