Fundraiser to benefit six-year-old with rare cancer

Six-year-old Logan James Parker of Ocean Township has spent almost half of his life battling a monster...cancer. In September 2010, Logan's parents, Rich and Nancy Parker, were given the devastating news that their son not only had Leukemia but that he had a Leukemia so rare that there was little known about it – Hypodiploid Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) with the Philadelphia Positive (PH+) Chromosome. Hypodiploidy refers to having fewer than the usual 46 chromosomes and PH+ is the translocation, or “swapping of parts,” of chromosomes 9 and 22. Try and Google that mouthful and you will come up with scholarly articles or Wikipedia entries about Hypodiploid ALL or ALL with PH+, but not a combination of all three. 

With a failed stem cell transplant already behind him and no perfect bone marrow match to be found there was little else that could be offered in the way of treatment options. This being the case, Logan has been entered into a clinical trial at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Known as CTL019 or CART19, Logan was the 13^th person in the world, and only the third child, to receive the treatment which involves the harvesting, mutation and infusion of the patient's own cells.

Through it all, Logan's smile and warrior attitude have come through and captured everyone who meets him, amassing him a legion of fans both locally and globally through his Facebook page. One of those fans, Andrea Bonfiglio of Monmouth Beach, has planned a fundraiser for him and his family on Thursday, March 14 beginning at 10 p.m. and running until 2 a.m. Billed as “Luck for Logan,” the event will take place at the Red Bank location of Tommy's Coal Fired Pizza, 2 Bridge Avenue in the Galleria. Andrea's parents, Tommy and Yvette, are the owners of the restaurant which has other locations in Oakhurst, Brick and Paramus. 

“We want to raise money for this beautiful little boy and his family because they are incredible people,” Andrea said. “Anyone who meets them instantly falls in love with them.”

“Luck for Logan” will have a St. Patrick's Day theme. There is a cover charge of $2 and 20% of all sales will benefit the Logan James Parker Fund. DJ Sal Vanchieri will provide the entertainment and there will be plenty of dancing, drink specials and a lot of fun. This is a 21 and over event; IDs will be checked.

For further information, please call Andrea Bonfiglio at Tommy's – 732-212-1700.