The sixth annual Sinderella’s Ball to benefit the Joan Dancy and PALS (People with ALS)
Foundation will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park.
Founded in 2005 by Terry Magovern, a long-time personal assistant to Bruce Springsteen, the Joan Dancy and PALS Foundation is an organization run solely on donations, according to a press release.
The grassroots organization serves Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients and their families throughout New Jersey. The organization provides equipment, support and advisory services to help families deal with the disease, according to the press release.
ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. This causes motor neurons to degenerate and eventually die, leading to muscle paralysis. It is estimated that patient care for those affected can cost upwards of $250,000 a year, according to the press release.
Sinderella’s Ball was started six years ago when a small circle of friends partnered with
the foundation and created the event to honor a dear friend of theirs, Sindy Weiner,
who had been diagnosed with ALS in 2010.
The more they learned about ALS, the more they realized they wanted to do something proactive to raise money to help others who were afflicted with the disease, as well as helping the families of those individuals.
Over the last five years, Sinderella’s Ball has raised more than $550,000 for the foundation,
with more than 500 people attending the ball each year, according to the press release.
Weiner died in October 2017 after a seven-year battle with ALS. Her motto during that difficult time in her life was “Always Live Smiling.”
The team’s desire is to keep Weiner’s memory alive by holding Sinderella’s Ball annually and to continue to help provide ALS patients and their families with what they need so they, too, can Always Live Smiling, according to the press release.
Doors for Sinderella’s Ball will open at 7 p.m. The donation for entry is $25. The evening will feature music from Docs of Rock, Strumberry Pie and Bobby Bandiera. There will be raffles, and silent and live auctions for events and memorabilia.
For more information about the event, or to make a donation to Joan Dancy and PALS and Sinderella’s Ball, visit www.sinderellasball.org or email sinderellasball@gmail.com
