Nearly $6K Raised For Cancer Through Upcoming Chatham Basketball Game

CHATHAM, NJ — Through participation fees and donations, the Chatham B+ Club has raised nearly $6,000 for pediatric cancer research for its upcoming basketball tournament on Saturday, Aug. 20.

All proceeds from the 3v3 tournament, which begins at 10 a.m. on the newly resurfaced Garden Park basketball courts next to Chatham Middle School, will benefit the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.

The B+ Foundation is the nation's largest provider of financial assistance to families of children with cancer, assisting nearly 3,000 families this year. In addition, the B+ Foundation promotes childhood cancer research, lobbying for funding, and spreading the B+ message: "It's not a grade. It's an attitude."

The Chatham Be Positive Club was founded in 2022 by Chatham High School sophomore, Mark Pasacreta.

Among the local sponsors for the fundraiser are JB Peterman Orthodontics, Rose City Paving, and Sonny's Indian Kitchen. Scoops, a local ice cream shop, is donating a B+ sundae to the cause, and they will be selling ice cream from the new Scoops bus at the tournament.

"We’re blown away by the kindness and generosity of the community. The Chatham Basketball Club and Chatham Recreation and Public Works departments deserve huge thank yous. We hope everyone will come out and cheer on the teams," Pasacreta said.

All Chatham sixth through eighth-grade students are welcome to attend, and they can sign up individually or in groups of three. The registration fee is $10 per participant, or in lieu of a fee, participants can send 10 emails to help spread awareness of the B+ Foundation's mission.

Andrew McDonough, a 14-year-old athlete from Wilmington, Delaware, inspired the creation of the B+ Foundation. McDonough led his team to a soccer tournament victory on Jan. 27, 2007, but he died 48 hours later.

McDonough was diagnosed with AML Leukemia, and doctors did not believe he would survive the night. He fought for 167 days before his death on July 14, 2007.

"We wanted to give to a meaningful cause and create a fun event for the Chatham community," Pasacreta said.

To register for the fundraiser, visit beposfdn.org.