Letter: Thank You For Helping Nick!

Dear Editor,

On January 16th, Martin Luther King Day, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, . This past October, Nick rode his bike to school and was hit by a landscaping truck. He had severe injuries to his skull and leg and has had several surgeries. He is home receiving occupational, physical, and cognitive therapies. As you can imagine, the cost of medical treatments for the Tsiskakis family has been astronomical.

"In The Net For Nick", a basketball free-throw fundraiser helped relieve a portion of the costs for the family. On the day of the event, with help from the community, $6,000 was raised so far for the Tsiskakis'. Once sponsors for the event submit their monies, more money is expected to be received. Thrivent Financial is matching a portion of these funds.

On the day of the fundraiser, sixty children, ages 3rd grade thru 12th grade, shot their free throws for the fundraiser and thirty volunteers worked the event. Volunteers included Bethlehem members, the Ridgewood High School Boys and Girls basketball teams, Mike Simmel from the Harlem Wizards, and Goatgear.

Thanks to everyone who made this a successful event! Special thanks go to the organizers of this event; Bethlehem members, Pam Chmiel; Margie Downs, Rebecca Leer, Gretchen Nelson, the Tsiskakis' family friend, Rose Hueneke and Thrivent Financial.

If you were unable to participate in this event, but would like to make a donation to Nick, please
Make your check payable to: “Nick Tsiskasis” and mail to In The Net For Nick, c/o Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450.  

Gretchen Nelson
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Ridgewood, NJ