'Sundaes with Santa' slated at Civic Center
Kidz-4-Kidz event on tap to help make Christmas happier for sick children
BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent

BRICK TOWNSHIP - A local charity will be dishing out ice cream and sprinkling on holiday cheer this Saturday for a fundraiser to benefit children with cancer.

Kidz-4-Kidz, a branch of the Ashley Lauren Foundation, will host its first "Sundaes with Santa" event from 2 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 8 at the Civic Plaza on Chambers Bridge Road.

"It will be a fun afternoon," said Brick Township resident Monica Vermeulen, executive director of the Ashley Lauren Foundation. "By attending, children are helping other children who can't do the things that they can do because they're sick."

The cost to attend the event is $10 for children and $7 for adults and includes a photo with Santa Claus; a lunch of hot dogs and chips; a make-your-own sundae bar; coffee and hot chocolate; crafts; face painting; and entertainment by Kidz-4- Kidz, who will be performing Christmas carols.

Vermeulen's daughter Ashley and her best friend Kate Lindstrom founded the organization in 2003. Kidz-4-Kidz is a group of children who use dance and theatrical performance to raise money for children with cancer.

"The reward is to see the smiles on the faces of the children who, for a short time, can forget about their illness and just be kids," said Ashley Vermeulen, 20, a cancer survivor.

Ashley Vermeulen was only 3 when she was diagnosed with Wilms' tumor, a rare type of kidney cancer. After losing her left kidney and undergoing years of chemotherapy and radiation, Ashley is now cancer-free.

"She's in great health," said Monica Vermeulen of her daughter, who is in her junior year at Richard Stockton College, Pomona, and majoring in dance.

But the Vermeulen's didn't forget the emotional and financial toll pediatric cancer takes on families, so they formed the Ashley Lauren Foundation in 2005 to bring hope and help to children with cancer throughout the state.

The foundation provides material assistance, emotional support, financial assistance, parties for children, and holiday and birthday gifts for children.

In its first year, the Ashley Lauren Foundation raised $80,000 through fundraisers to help children with cancer. The foundation has already gone over last year's mark as it finishes up its second year, Monica Vermeulen said.

"Just about all the money we raise goes to helping children and their families," said Monica Vermeulen. "We hardly have any administrative costs."

The foundation is also currently looking for wish granters to purchase Christmas presents for children battling cancer.

"We want to make this Christmas the happiest season ever," said Monica Vermeulen. "Last year, every wish was granted."

There are close to 100 children and Christmas wishes on the list this year.

For more information on "Sundaes with Santa" (reservations requested) or the Wish Granters program, visit the Web site www.ashleylaurenfoundation.org or call (732) 458-4200.