Car Washes By Point Boro Football Team Raise Money For Injured Player

POINT PLEASANT, NJ — The Point Pleasant Boro football team is hosting a car wash to raise funds for the family of a St. John Vianney football player who suffered a spinal injury in a September game.

The car wash is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 16 at ME Sabosik Associates, 2319 Bridge Ave.

The fundraiser will benefit Aaron Van Trease, the St. John Vianney quarterback who suffered a spinal injury during a normal play in a game against Manasquan on Sept. 23. Van Trease, an 18-year-old senior, underwent surgery and is hospitalized in New Brunswick. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $138,000.

Football teams around the Shore Conference have been showing support for Vianney and Van Trease, with the hashtags #OneShore and #AVT18 — Van Trease wears No. 18 — on social media postings.

The proceeds from the car wash will be presented to St. John Vianney when Point Boro hosts the Lancers on Oct. 21, said Ginamarie Mazzaro, vice president of the team's parents organization said.

"This car wash is more than a car wash," Mazzaro said. "It's about F.A.M.I.L.Y. taking care of F.A.M.I.L.Y."

The group also has been purchasing T-shirts that are being sold through St. John Vianney to help Van Trease's family and plans to wear them at the Oct. 21 game, she said. The T-shirts are $20 and can be purchased at this link. There are sweatshirts and hats as well.

"We may be Point Boro Panthers, but we are all in for supporting AVT!" she said.