Middletown South-RFH Varsity Ice Hockey Game Jan. 31 For Kids' Cancer

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — At 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, come watch Middletown South take on Rumson-Fair Haven varsity ice hockey at the Middletown Sports Complex.

This is the third and final game to raise money in memory of Luca Iacono, an 11-year-old Middletown boy who passed away from rhabdomyosarcoma in 2019.

All money raised tonight — and from the prior two games — will go to Middletown-based Infinite Love For Kids Fighting Cancer. Iacono was diagnosed with cancer at age 9; he fought the cancer for more than two years.

He died at age 11, while holding both his parents' hands. He was a fifth grader at Harmony Elementary School and his dream was to become a running back for the New York Giants.

On Jan. 5, cross-town rivals Middletown North and South ice hockey teams (both JV and varsity) held a first-ever fundraiser ice hockey game in Luca's honor and to raise money to fight pediatric cancer. North varsity then held another game Jan. 12 vs. Chatham.

All players from all five teams have been invited to return to the ice after Tuesday night's game to take pictures with Infinite Love, children from the Infinite Love family and Luca’s parents Frank and Michele Iacono — so Tuesday evening should be a very emotional evening on the ice in Middletown.

They are currently on their way to "an astounding $20,635 raised," said Denise Carmody, the mother of North JV and varsity ice hockey players and one of the parents who helped organize the matches. "We are well on our way to fulfilling the $25,000 needed to fund a pediatric research grant."

It is so amazing, she said, because the Middletown kids initially just hoped to raise a few thousand in Luca's memory.

If you cannot make it tonight, here is their fundraising page: https://www.flipcause.com/secu...

"When Rumson-Fair Haven varsity hockey learned what we are doing, they graciously volunteered to join us in our fundraising efforts," said Carmody. "We are so thrilled. It is truly something special when opponents on the ice come together and support one another for the common good."

Please come out and support these local kids and families supporting their neighbors and working to end pediatric cancer.

More about the charity: https://www.infiniteloveforkidsfightingcancer.org