PBA Benefit Basketball Game to Help Brick Child With Serious Condition

Ryan Magnotta

Each year, Brick PBA Local 230 hosts a “Helping Hands” benefit basketball game to lend a hand to township family in need. This year, PBA organizers said, the game will help the family of a 1o-year-old Brick boy with a serious – and costly – medical condition.

The game consists of Brick police officers squaring off against members of the Brick Dragons football team in a friendly game of basketball. This year, spectators who make a donation at the door will be helping the family of Ryan Magnotta.

Ryan was diagnosed at age five with a pancreatic disease known as hereditary chronic pancreatitis.  Over the past five years, he has been in and out of Children’s Hospital in New Jersey, University of Minnesota’s Children’s Hospital, and Boston’s Children’s Hospital receiving care. He has undergone multiple procedures and currently lives with a feeding tube on a daily basis.  His pain and discomfort are constant.  Ryan’s parents are facing the daunting task of dealing with Ryan’s illness and continuing to care for their 2 other children.

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“As you can imagine, they have a substantial amount of medical debt that continues to increase with each passing day,” Officer Richard Nelson, Jr. said in an e-mail. “We would like to extend a helping hand to Ryan and the Magnotta family.”

The game will be held at the Brick Township High School East Gym on Friday, March 27, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. The cost is $3 per adult and $2 per student. Seating is limited, so arrive early, the PBA recommends.

In addition to the invitation for the Brick community to see the game, the PBA is asking individuals, businesses and organizations to help the Magnotta family as well. Donations can be sent to the PBA Local 230, P.O. Box 1067, Brick, NJ 08723, c/o Officer Richard Nelson, Jr.  Checks can be made payable to the “Helping Hands Fund.”

For further information, please contact Officer Richard Nelson, Jr., and Officer Robert Scelfo, at 732-262-1100 or Detective Greg Mullarkey at 732-262-1122.