Community rallies to support child

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Nimi Shah and Sonali Shah participate in "I Walked for Baby Billy," a fundraiser and show of support for Billy Sherwood Jr., a 16-month-old boy who has a stage 3 neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that occurs in infants and young children. MARLBORO — A crowd of 359 people took to the streets of Marlboro on Oct. 5 to support Billy Sherwood Jr., a 16-month-old boy who has a stage 3 neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that occurs in infants and young children.

The Walk for Baby Billy 5-kilometer walk at the municipal complex on Wyncrest Road brought out residents who wanted to help raise money for the Sherwood family during this difficult time in their lives.

While on a family vacation Billy and Dena Sherwood noticed something was amiss with their son. Cutting the vacation short to have Billy checked out, the family learned in early July that the boy has cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society's Internet Web site, this form of cancer starts in young nerve cells called neuroblasts, which control functions such as the heartbeat and blood pressure.

Dena and Billy Sherwood push their 16-month-old son, Billy Jr., in his stroller during "I Walked for Baby Billy." The child is scheduled to be operated on at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City on Oct. 16. to remove a tumor. At the time of his diagnosis Billy had an inoperable tumor which stretched throughout his abdomen, but after months of treatment the tumor can now be operated on. Billy is expected to undergo surgery on Oct. 16 to remove 90 percent of the tumor, Dena Sherwood said.

She said doctors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City are confident they will be able to remove the majority of the tumor and have indicated that the remaining tumor sometimes regenerates into normal, healthy cells.

A group of local mothers came together to help the Sherwood family, organizing the walk to raise money to offset some of the medical bills.

Sherwood said she is thankful for Nancy Morin, Sirena Carnevale, Toni Mucci, Sharee Salvatore and Melanie Buonomo who spent two months organizing the event. The mothers all met the Sherwood family when Billy's older sister Sydney was a student at Turtle Creek Learning Academy in Marlboro.

Morin said the first 200 adult registrants who signed up received a yellow "I Walked for Baby Billy" T-shirt. The shirts were donated by Turtle Creek Learning Academy.

To promote the walk, Morin said a booth was set up during the recent Marlboro Day at the municipal complex. The Baby Billy booth had carnival games which were donated by Amazing Amusements. Local businesses including Panther Press, Post Net, Staples stores in Marlboro and Hazlet, Office Center and Print Shoppe all donated fliers to help publicize the walk.

The four registrants who raised the most money for the walk received gift baskets. Melissa Rescigno. Erica Fruscione, Vanessa Light and the Green family were the top fundraisers and took home baskets donated by Mary Kay cosmetics and At Home America.

To entertain all those who gave their time to be a part of the event, DJ Brian from Majestic Mixers donated his time to spin some tunes to keep the group moving. Morin said a group of students from Freehold Township High School volunteered their Sunday by keeping children entertained with face painting and temporary tattoos.

Food and drinks for participants were donated from various locations including Olde Silver Tavern, Romeo's, Wegmans, Wal-Mart, Delicious Orchards, La Piazza, Bagel Talk, Tuscany, La Dolce bakery, Entenmann's, Perkins, Auntie Ellyn's Mandle Bread and Dunkin' Donuts. Morin said Maggenheim Chiropractic in Staten Island, N.Y., donated a candy tower for the event.

Sherwood said she was amazed at the support that came from throughout the area. She expressed her thanks to the entire community for everything that has been done to help her family.

"We are blessed to have such an amazing support system at this difficult time," she said.

Anyone who was unable to attend the Oct. 5 event and would like to help the Sherwood family may do so by sending donations in the name of William Sherwood Jr. to Turtle Creek Learning Academy, 10 Railroad Ave., Marlboro, NJ 07746. Donations are also accepted via PayPal at http://babybilly.ning.com.