Locals Raise $10,000 for Cancer Patient

At in Manasquan on Sunday, over 200 people enjoyed an afternoon of live music, food and drinks at a fundraising event to benefit a local child with cancer.

For the second time in as many years, 18-year-old Sean Martyn of Brick is battling Oral Rhabdomyosarcoma - a rare pediatric cancer.

Martyn discovered it due to being tackled while playing varsity football for Brick Township High School. After the game, he began to have headaches and went to the hospital. After x-rays and an MRI, the Martyn family learned that it was something more serious -- a tumor.

During the summer of 2011 he was in remission and it went away. It wasn't until this past January when they learned the cancer had returned -- this time as a stage 4 that spread to his bones.

“Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It happens to anyone and it’s even worse when it’s a child. It’s bad enough when your kid has the flu,” said Leggetts’ Manager and close friend of the family, Paul Wolf. “Hopefully we can make a difference in helping out the family.”

A good friend of his, Turnpike Mike (Mike Pallella) got a bunch of his friends together to donate their time as the band for the event. Eager to help, Wolf said Pallella jumped right at the chance.

Wolf said of Pallella, “He said: ‘If I have something else booked, it’s out. This is for a kid -- I’m there.’”

Pallella and his buddies Jim Mizel, John Perry, Tim Lyons, Bunker Straout and Bill Morris led the entertainment for the evening playing everything from Oldies to Rock.

“Some of us play together on occasion and we’re here to support the cause,” Straout said.

Attendees enjoyed the entertainment and food, but mainly were just happy to help Martyn. For $25 a ticket, they received two drinks, live music, a buffet with various types of food, and one ticket to win one of several donated gift items.

Anthony Carpenter’s motorcycle club -- Monmouth Beach Motorcycle Club -- attended in a pack to support this cause. 

“He’s friends with one of our guy’s daughter. It’s a worthy cause -- supporting local kids,” Carpenter said. Among others, Carpenter and his friends were enjoying the music.

“Rock n’ roll is what we do,” he said on behalf of the music that was playing at that moment.

Colleen Smith, co-organizer and close friend of Sean’s father, Jimmy Martyn, said they sold tickets three weeks in advance and had many donators including individuals from the community and businesses. Among them was Manasquan’s Squan-a-thon team who donated $5,000 and the Manasquan Elks who donated $2,000 at the event. In total, over $10,000 was raised.

The money raised will go toward paying Sean Martyn’s medical bills and house expenses.

Kathy Connolly, the event’s other co-organizer, also a close friend of Jimmy Martyn, said that insurance does not cover everything and people would be surprised by how little it does cover. Events like this help the family pay for what insurance does not pick up.

“It’s terrifying,” said Jimmy Martyn, on behalf of his son’s cancer. “It uplifts everyone and makes my son feel very good that there is so much support. Keep us in prayer.”

To donate, visit www.giveforward.com/teamsean.