13-Year-Old Hillsborough Brain Cancer Survivor Honored By NJ Devils

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — 13-year-old Charlie Shomers of Hillsborough, a cancer patient and lifelong Devils fan, and his family were hosted the New Jersey Devils at their annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night in partnership with RWJBarnabas Health on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Shomers was diagnosed with Ependymoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in July earlier this year.

After a successful surgery in July to remove the tumor and six weeks of radiation therapy treatment, Shomers completed treatment in October at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and is on the road to recovery.

On Saturday at the NJ Devils game against the Buffalo Sabres at Prudential Center, Shomers was treated with a gameday experience. The experience included a one-day contract signed by General Manager Tom Fitzgerald, an official jersey and locker stall, meet and greet with his favorite Devils player, Jack Hughes, watch warmups from the penalty box, join the starting lineup read in the locker room, participate in a ceremonial puck drop, and ride the Zamboni during the second intermission.

"Hockey Fights Cancer Night truly helps to lift the spirits of cancer patients and their families by paying tribute to their strength and perseverance and reinforces the need to support cancer research and care," said Dr. Steven Libutti, Director, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Senior Vice President, Oncology Services, RWJBarnabas Health.

During the special night, the Devils offered various ways for fans to get involved to help raise funds for the Cancer Transportation Program at Community Medical Center.

RWJBarnabas Health, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. To learn more about this year’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night, visit newjerseydevils.com/HFC.