Cops and football team rally for ailing 3-year-old

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Three-year-old Roman Merlo gets in some practice time at the PBA's annual "Helping Hands"benefit basketball game held for him at Brick Township High School on Friday. The little boy has a rare form of bone cancer.

BRICK TOWNSHIP - The most valuable player in the basketball game last Friday night between the Brick Township Police Department and the Brick Township High School Green Dragons Football Team never even took the court.

But three-and-a-half-year-old Roman Merlo was there watching the game and having a great time.

"Roman was in great spirits," said Officer Greg Mullarkey.

The game was the Policemen's Benevolent Association's annual "Helping Hands Benefit Basketball Game." The fundraiser is held each year to assist a local family facing financial hardship due to a child's serious illness.

Merlo and his mother Susan were the recipients of the proceeds from this year's game, which is now in its 19th year.

Roman was recently diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer. The little boy began chemotherapy earlier this month.

Three-year-old Roman Merlo helps Brick Lt. Edward Waldhelm pick a winning raffle ticket at the PBA's annual "Helping Hands" basketball game benefit Friday night. Proceeds of the event went to his family.

Susan Merlo has been unable to work due to her son's illness.

"It definitely was a successful evening," said Mullarkey. "There were a lot of giveaways at halftime. The kids had a great time."

Donations from the event are still coming in and should be tallied by the end of this week, he said. And for the first time in five years, the PBA beat the Green Dragon Football Team.

"The final score was 49-46," Mullarkey said. "It came down to the last second."

Donations can still be sent to the Brick Township Police Department, 401 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick, NJ 08723 in care of Officer Richard Nelson Jr. Checks should be made payable to the "Roman Merlo Fund."

- Danielle Medina