Westfield Youths Screen 'Pitch Perfect 2', Raise $22K for Cancer Research

Two Westfield seventh grade students took on the challenge of raising money for cancer research as part of their bar and bat mitzvah projects.

Last Friday, May 15, Olivia Roth and Victor Coustan, both seven grade students at Roosevelt Middle School, rented out the Rialto Theater, 250 E Broad St. in Westfield, for its first two screenings of “Pitch Perfect 2” to raise money for cancer research.

More than 400 people attended the fundraiser to watch the film in support of “#bradstrong”, named after Victor’s father Brad, who is battling Multiple Myeloma.

The fundraiser generated more than $22,000 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). While fighting the disease, Brad Coustan is also blogging about his battle with cancer. Multiple Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer, according to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF).

“My Dad has been fighting for more than two years and that’s why I feel so strongly about the cause,” Victor said. “I hope that raising money for the (Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation) will help us find a cure.”

(Photo of Victor Coustan and Olivia Roth courtesy of Helene Coustan)