Prom-Themed Event To Benefit Cranford Kids Battling Cancer

CRANFORD, NJ - Friends of Will DeGregorio and Nick Swandrik are hoping to ease the financial burden of the boy's battle with cancer through a Prom-themed fundraiser set for Oct. 26.

The benefit is being held at the Westwood in Garwood, located at 438 North Avenue, from 7 p.m. through 11 p.m. and will feature:

• Beer and Wine
• Food
• Silent Auction
• Music From the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s

One of the organizers, Lauren LaTorre, said that all the proceeds will go to help DeGregorio and Swandrik with their medical bills.

DeGregorio is a a 10-year-old Cranford fifth grader who is enduring his third bout with osteosarcoma. Since June 2018 he has had several rounds of chemo, along with pelvic surgery which had successfully resected the tumor from his left hip bone. During a routine MRI in September another osteosarcoma was discovered and since then he has since had hip replacement surgery to remove this new tumor.

LaTorre noted that he continues to recover and heal and stay positive for good results to come. DeGregorio lives with a single mom who has not been able to return to work due to the constant treatments.

Swandrik is 14 and was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in July 2018 just as he was getting ready to start his freshman year at Cranford High School. His treatments have been going well but will not be completed until October 2021, LaTorre said.

LaTorre said that Swandrik's mother has not been able to return to work because of his monthly rounds of chemo and a monthly spinal tap.

"His attitude and upbeat personality has helped tremendously through this difficult path," LaTorre said.

Advanced tickets are necessary to attend. To buy, email Promise.Cranford@Gmail.com or purchase online at a-prom-ise-to-the-community.ticketleap.com/prom-ise-to-our-community/

Those who cannot attend the fundraiser, which costs $85 a person, can donate to Promise Cranford, PO Box 46, Garwood, NJ 07027.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.