Spaghetti dinner benefits children with cancer Event part of yearlong sponsorship program at local Catholic school BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer EDISON - The love was felt in the air at Bishop George Ahr High School recently. Approximately 600 to 700 of the Bishop Ahr High School staff, students, and former "Ahr Stars" all in red T-shirts came together to kick off their 20th annual Ahr Star program with a spaghetti dinner Oct. 4. The dinner was made possible by the Woodbridge Knights of Columbus. "This is a program that brings our community together to do something good," said Sister Donna Marie Trukowski, principal at the high school. "People feel good about themselves by helping someone else out." The Ahr Star program was founded in 1987 by the student council and their moderator, Melanie McGarry, who ran the program for 13 years. The program allows the Bishop Ahr community to come together and support a chronically or terminally ill child. Sister Cynthia Marie Babyak took over the position after McGarry, and she has spearheaded the program ever since. The goal of the program is to give the Ahr Star and his or her family financial, spiritual, emotional and community support during the year. This year, the Ahr Star Committee chose to sponsor Alyssa Ricciardi, 3, of South Plainfield, who was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma when she was 22 months old in 2004, and Roman Montalto, 2, of Metuchen, who was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in 2006. The Ricciardi family was informed of the Ahr Star program by their friends whose daughter, Justine Francy, is a 2007 alumna. The Montalto family was informed by Roman's Uncle David, a 1987 alumnus. The Bishop Ahr community showered the children and their families with gifts from Elmo chairs to fire trucks, as well as love, blessings and prayers. "The community has been such a wonderful support," said Alyssa's mother, Dana. "Since Alyssa has been adopted as an Ahr Star, there is nothing more powerful than the power of prayer." Alyssa has undergone treatments since she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, which is a children's cancer that attacks the nervous system. "Because of the treatments, Alyssa had to have her kidney removed in January," said Dana. "She is currently waiting for a kidney transplant, and she has three or four dialysis treatments a week." Roman's ordeal started with a stomach flu in fall 2006, which turned out to be acute lymphocytic leukemia, which is a cancer of the blood in which too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, are produced by the bone marrow and by organs of the lymph system. "We are very overwhelmed, excited, thrilled and happy," said Roman's father, Barry. "We really appreciate everything." During the year, the Bishop Ahr community sponsors various fundraisers for the families. Before the holidays, Bishop Ahr holds a special Ahr Star Mass for the entire student body, faculty, staff and the families. The Bishop Ahr community also keeps in touch with the Ahr Stars for various holidays; cards are sent by each homeroom to the family, an edible arrangement is sent for Thanksgiving, small gifts are sent for Valentine's Day, etc. In the spring, the Ahr Star children and their families will visit the school and meet the students, faculty and staff. "This is the best way to teach the students, by letting them see that they can bring joy to someone else," said Sister Cynthia Marie, who is also the chairwoman of the religious department at the school. Senior Katie Pfister and juniors Brittney Fuerstenburg and Megan Lawles said it was amazing to see that the littlest things they do make such an impact in other people's lives. "It teaches us that we should be have so much," said Fuerstenburg, who sits on the Ahr Star board with Lawles. Former Ahr Stars and their families came to the dinner to show appreciation for the program. Four-year-old Kaitlyn Khoo, of Oradell, was an Ahr Star in 2005. She was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma when she was 2 years old. "This program helped us not only financially, but also emotionally," said her mother, Kit. "Kaitlyn has just finished her two years of chemotherapy at the end of June." Seventeen-year-old Ally Gerhart, of Windfield Park, who was an Ahr Star in 2003, said the Ahr Star program has helped her and her family a lot. She was diagnosed with leukemia in 2001. "These are a wonderful group of kids," said Ally's mother, Carolyn. "Ally has been in remission since she was 13 years old. Our son graduated from Bishop Ahr in 2003, and we get tickets to the dinner and bring a donation every year because it's a great program. Four-year-old Sydney Hamer, of Edison, who was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor, was an Ahr Star last year. "Her right kidney had to be removed, and she has had chemotherapy treatment," said her father, Ted, who graduated from Bishop Ahr in 1991. "This program has been amazing with the love, support and prayer." Sydney's mother, Jennifer, agreed. "The amount of support that we received from perfect strangers is a pleasant surprise," she said. "Since Ted graduated from the school, everyone remembered and helped us."