Donations For Injured Vianney Player From Manasquan Keep Growing

HOLMDEL, NJ — Aaron Van Trease, the Saint John Vianney quarterback injured last week in a game against his hometown - Manasquan, is seeing the outpouring of support for him, the organizer of a fundraising site for him says.

Lindsay Scollo of Manasquan, the organizer of the site, said she is a neighbor of the family, not a close friend.

But the people on their Manasquan block felt they had to do something, so Scollo started a GoFundMe site.

The site has, as of Thursday evening, received over $87,000 in donations for the Van Trease family as Aaron begins his recovery from his spinal injury in the game, she said.

There have been 640-plus donations, all with prayers and wishes for the football player's recovery.

She also has developed a QR code - with his #18 - to help make it easier for people to donate to his medical expenses, she said.

You can reach the fundraising site here or through a QR code (pictured below) that Scollo developed.

She prefers to stay in the background, she said, and only was commenting to ask that people understand there is no news to update on the football player's condition. She and family members get many texts but can not answer them all. Things will take time and patience, she said.

But she said Van Trease is "a young, healthy and in the best shape of his life," a good basis to begin a recovery.

Scollo said he reads the reports about his accident and appreciates all the support.

Van Trease lives in Manasquan and went to all local schools there and the town is pulling for him, Scollo said.

She said football is a "rite of passage In Manasquan." She said players bond and they learn to be part of the community from the game.

Van Trease, an 18-year-old senior at the school, underwent surgery for a spinal injury he sustained during a normal play in last Friday's football game - a home game in Holmdel on Sept. 23.

"Anyone who knows Aaron can attest to his determination and incredible ambition. There is no doubt that Aaron will bring that same tenacity and commitment to his rehab and recovery," the site posted.

Saint John Vianney is also raising funds for the family.

On its Facebook site, the school said it will be selling T-shirts (pictured above) to support Aaron and all monies will be donated to him for his recovery. The T-shirt will cost $20 and students can purchase shirts during lunch next week, the school said. It provides a link to the merchandise on the Facebook post.

Van Trease's words to head coach Jeff Papcun were: "Don't worry about me. Go win this game." SJV won the game 32-0 and the words are now on the school Facebook site.

Founded in 1969, Saint John Vianney High School is a Catholic college preparatory school located in Holmdel and operated by the Diocese of Trenton, according to the school website.