North Penn PAL Fundraiser Saturday for Teen's Leukemia Fight

North Penn Police Activities League Executive Director Greg O'Brien was heading out the door to meet other volunteers at Penndale Middle School shortly before 6 p.m. Friday when he answered our call.

O'Brien and others were meeting Friday to set up for Saturday's fundraiser for Lansdale teen Matthew Knoebel, who is fighting leukemia.

"There's a lot of stuff going on," he said. "It's not the kind of thing where there is nothing to look at, nothing to see. There will be a constant flow of activity, with officers mingling with 50/50 tickets, a couple of sports guys, fashion shows and basketball games."

That about summed up the highlights of tomorrow's fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Penndale Middle School in Lansdale. 

North Penn PAL has been planning the event for Knoebel since early February.

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The event kicks off with Broad Street Bullies enforcer David "The Hammer" Schultz, of the two-time Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers, and former 76er and three-time NBA champion Gerald Henderson coming in via Fairmount Fire Co. of Lansdale. Spider-Man will accompany them on their 11 a.m. entrance.

"They're there for Knoebel and the kids, although the parents will know who they are," said O'Brien. 

There will be three "Kids vs. Cops" basketball games, featuring basketball teams from Pennbrook, Pennfield and Penndale middle schools, and police officers from the North Penn area. O'Brien said each game will have a 20-minute running clock.

Old Navy at Airport Square in Montgomery Township is hosting two co-ed fashion shows between the basketball games, on target for noon and 1 p.m. 

"Matt’s classmates from Penndale will be the models, so to speak," said O'Brien.

Lansdale Area Fundraising Society will also be on hand Saturday to present a check to Knoebel and his family, set for 1 p.m.

"Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch approached (board member) Drew Stockmal and I after a Lansdale Borough Council meeting to talk about LAFS making a donation to Matt Knoebel via the North Penn PAL event," said LAFS board member Ray Liberto. "After talking with all the members of LAFS, and reviewing the huge outcry of support the community has been providing over the past year, it was an easy decision."

"Matt and his family lived in the West Ward of Lansdale and grew up here; we are a group of neighbors that donate our time to raise money for neighbors in need," said Liberto.

The day will also feature a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and a basket auction. The auctions feature items such as two Phillies Hall of Fame Club tickets, Jon Marks and Sean Brace, signed pucks by Schultz, a Danny Watkins signed Eagles helmet from Comcast and Neil Hartman, and a one-year North Penn YMCA membership.

O'Brien said local businesses like Life is Good in Horsham and Margaritas in Towamencin donated gift baskets for the auction. The Montgomery Township, Towamencin Township and Hatfield Township police benevolent associations also kicked in with donations, he said.

Det. Sgt. Terry Kennedy, of Lower Providence Township Police, is also donating items, he said.  

Pat's Pizza on Broad Street in Hatfield Township has donated pizza for the event, O'Brien said. Philly Soft Pretzel has donated pretzels, he said.

Walgreens and Centennial Blueprint have donated water, he said.

"Centennial Blueprint has made special labels for the bottles, with Matt's picture, the North Penn PAL logo and a QR code for Matt's Caringbridge site," O'Brien said. "Centennial is also giving us all the signage. They did a real nice job stepping up."

Margaritas in Towamencin will have a table featuring salsas and chips, O'Brien said.  

Lansdale Candy Company, on North Penn Road in Hatfield, is donating gum and candy.

There were plans for hot dogs and hamburgers, but O'Brien said any food in need of warming required hiring two kitchen staff for four hours from North Penn School District. O'Brien said that would have meant less money going to the Knoebel family.

"The proceeds from the pizza and water bottles, the 50/50s and auctions all goes back to Matt and his family," he said. "We want to have something there for people to eat. If there's nothing, people tend to leave to eat."  

DJ Johnny K Johnny will emcee the event and fashion show. A face painter will also be at the event.

The main sponsors of the basketball games are W.B. Homes, Lansdale Hospital and Prudential Keystone Properties.  

Kelly Palermo, of Towamencin Township Police, was able to arrange a Be the Match bone marrow registry for the event. Attendees can sign up to be bone marrow donors and receive a swab test.  

North Penn PAL will be selling Team Matt T-shirts with the North Penn PAL logo on the front, with all proceeds going to the family. Team Matt is an open Facebook group that is approaching 400 members.

O'Brien said Knoebel's family is planning on setting up a laptop so Knoebel can Skype during the event and attendees can have a continuous experience with him to wish him the best.

"We want to make as much out of this as we can," O'Brien said. "We have received a lot of great community support. A lot of people have stepped up."

O'Brien said he has been stopped by people over the past couple months who have seen flyers of the event and expressed their intentions to attend with their families and their children.

"It's all about Matt and whatever we can do to raise money to give back to him and his family for their medical expenses," O'Brien said. "A lot of things are happening Saturday, but we cannot lose focus of the fact that this is for him."