Brick PBA Helping Hands Game To Aid Boy With Rare Gene Disorder

BRICK, NJ — The family of a 3-year-old Brick Township boy has been designated as the beneficiaries of the annual Brick Township Policemen’s Benevolent Association's Helping Hands benefit basketball game.

This will be the 30th annual game, and it features members of the Brick Township Police Department playing against members of the Brick Township High School football team.

The PBA annually picks a family facing financial hardship due to a child's serious illness to help through the proceeds from the game; this year, it's the family of Bentley Stanwise.

Bentley has been diagnosed with cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, commonly referred to as CFC syndrome. CFC syndrome is a very rare genetic mutation that causes a variety of issues, including heart problems, skin conditions and muscular problems. He suffers from epilepsy, brain lesions, optic nerve hypoplasia, has difficulty with his airways, is dependent on a gastric tube for feeding, and is nonverbal, as well as other issues, his family says.

CFC syndrome is estimated to affect 1 in every 810,000 people and just over 400 people in the world are currently diagnosed with CFC.

"As you can imagine, the costs associated with these conditions increase with each passing day," the Brick PBA announcement said. "We would like to extend to Bentley Stanwise and his family a 'Helping Hand.' "

The basketball game is scheduled for March 27.

Any person or organization that would like to contribute to the fundraiser or otherwise participate should contact Officer John Turrin at jturrin@brickpd.com or can send donations to Brick PBA Local 230, P.O. Box 1067, Brick, NJ 08723 c/o Officer John Turrin. Checks can be made payable to the "Helping Hands Fund."

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