Basketball Tourney Will Support Sunshine Foundation

Lawrence Township volunteer firefighters need your help to support a worthy cause.

They need you to come out tomorrow evening, Wednesday, Nov. 23, to cheer them on during the “Hoops for Happiness” basketball tournament being held in the gym at Ewing High School.

The contest will raise money for the , an event in May during which more than 100 children with special needs from around the area are flown to Florida for a day of fun in the sun at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.   

A team made up of firefighters from Slackwood, Lawrence Road and Lawrenceville fire companies will compete against a team from Ewing Township Police Department. The winner of the matchup will go on to compete against the winner of a game between Ewing Township firefighters and West Windsor Township police officers.

For the last several years, Ewing firefighters and police officers competed in a Thanksgiving Eve football game to benefit the Sunshine Foundation.

This year, the contest moves from the gridiron to the hardwood and expands beyond Ewing Township.

Mark Lenarski Jr. of Slackwood Fire Co. said he was approached earlier this year by Ewing firefighters to see if Lawrence firefighters might be interested in competing in the basketball tournament.

“Given the cause – the Sunshine Foundation – we were more than willing to help out,” Lenarski said. “There’s been a good response. Guys who don’t want to play are still interested in helping out.”

He said the ladies auxiliary from Slackwood Fire Co. is even getting involved, with the ladies set to help sell 50/50 raffle tickets and work the tournament concession stand.

Representing the Lawrence Township fire companies on the basketball court will be Mark Lenarski Jr., Todd Lenarski, Sean Willever, Donquae Douglas, Ron Benning, Keith Kent, Jim Gorski, Kevin Spies and Kishan Sitapara.  

The tournament will be held tomorrow, Nov. 23, at Ewing High School at 900 Parkway Ave. Doors open at 5:15 p.m., with the first game starting at 6:15 p.m.

Tickets are $5 per person, with children 8 years of age and younger free. Souvenirs and refreshments will be sold. There will also be a 3-point shootout contest for fans, with prizes to be awarded.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the firefighters and police officers’ efforts to support the Sunshine Foundation can send it in care of 1666 Pennington Rd., Ewing, N.J., 08618. Checks should be made payable to "Sunshine Bowl."