Paradise Grill and Short’s Marine donate $12,108 to Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center
Long Neck-area businesses Paradise Grill and Marina and Short’s Marine partnered together and held fundraising events this year that, combined, raised a total of $12,108 to help patients at Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center.
The two events that drew several hundred people were the 4th annual Flounder Pounder Open in August, and the 2nd annual “Crushing Cancer” 5K in October. Nearly 200 boats participated in the three-day fishing tournament that offered a grand prize of $50,000. The 5K brought participants to Pot Nets Bayside where they were treated to a free buffet at Paradise Grill, as well as entertainment provided by Mike Hines & The Look band.
Al Tortella and Sandy Samsel of Paradise Grill and Juli Decker of Short’s Marine recently presented the check to Judy Aliquo, President and CEO of Beebe Medical Foundation, and Cherrie Rich, RN, Executive Director of Oncology Services at Beebe Healthcare.
“Our staff and our patients at Tunnell Cancer Center appreciate this generous gift,” said Cherrie Rich, RN, MSN, Executive Director of Oncology Services at Beebe Healthcare. “It is so wonderful to feel the support of the community, especially for the patients and their loved ones. They know that they are not alone.”
Paradise Grill owner Al Tortella said that his business and Short’s Marine teamed up to make the events bigger and better. “We would like to thank our biggest and most generous sponsor, the Pot-Nets Communities! Rob and Robert Tunnell could have not been more supportive to these two events benefiting the Beebe Tunnell Cancer Center named after their family.”
Al Tortella add, “We would also like to thank our many sponsors. We see these events getting bigger every year. We are so pleased and proud to support our local cancer center and to know that the dollars remain in Sussex County.
Other sponsors included:
· Tim Bamforth from Seashore Striders
· Billy Hein from Logo Motive
· Boat US
· M&T Bank
· Bob Willey & Sons
· Bob and John Klerlein from Iron Works.
· Sound FX
· Blue Hen Disposal
· Mid-Atlantic Electric
Al also gave a special thanks and shared how inspired he was by Sarah McGann and Avery Smith for donating the $132 they raised at their lemonade stand.
Juli Decker from Short’s Marine said, “We are proud to have the opportunity to be involved with such a great cause. We look forward to our continued involvement with Paradise Grill to help support the Tunnell Cancer Center. It is a much needed asset to our local community.”
Judy Aliquo, President and CEO of Beebe Medical Foundation shared, “We are so grateful to our Paradise Grill and Marina and Short’s Marine for choosing to support our local cancer center. We have seen a recent trend in local fundraisers and organizations choosing Beebe as their beneficiary mainly because local business’ want to support their local hospital and cancer center rather than larger cancer agencies where monies are not spent here in Sussex County. Give where you live is a common desire among our local businesses and donors.”
Caption: The check presentation was recently made at Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center. Pictured here, left to right, are: Judy Aliquo, President and CEO of Beebe Medical Foundation; Dr. Porselvi Chockalingam; Cherrie Rich, RN, MSN, Executive Director of Oncology Services; Dr. Carmen Pisc holding the sign; Juli Decker of Short’s Marine; Sandy Samsel of Paradise Grill holding the sign; Al Tortella of Paradise Grill; oncology nurse practitioner Liz Wilson, NP; Tom Protack, Vice President of Development for Beebe Medical Foundation; and oncology nurse Kristin Redd, RN.
About Tunnell Cancer Center
The Robert & Eolyne Tunnell Cancer Center at Beebe Healthcare was established in 1995. It has received the Commission on Cancer's highest accreditation with commendation as a comprehensive community cancer treatment center. Its clinical specialties are medical oncology/hematology and radiation oncology. It also offers a multidisciplinary approach for planning all cancer treatment. Nearly 200 patients visit the center each day.
Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. It offers services throughout Southern Delaware for residents and visitors, including a 210-licensed-bed hospital, a cancer treatment center, and outpatient facilities providing walk-in care, lab, imaging, and physical rehabilitation services. For more information, please visit us online at Beebe Healthcare.