Bizzie Bowl Scores Touchdown for Boy With Brain Tumor

Touchdowns were scored Saturday at Smith Field in the Bizzie Bowl, a flag football tournament held to benefit the family of a teenage boy who is battling a brain tumor.  

The event, which is in its fourth year, is named in memory of Elizabeth Stein, a three-year-old girl who died of a brain tumor on Jan. 15.  

All proceeds of this year's five-on-five tournament will go to the family of 14-year-old Peter Hebberd, a Brooklawn Middle School graduate from Parsippany who was diagnosed in 2003 with an inoperable brain tumor when he was 6 years old.

Since the diagnosis, Hebberd has underwent 11 surgeries, most recently one in April. Doctors told him their hope is his tumor can be managed through surgeries and treatment, since the tumor itself cannot be removed because of its location on his brain.

"The community has really supported this event," said Angela Londergan, who teamed with her husband, Cavan, to start the flag football game four years ago.  

Londergan said her husband, a Parsippany elementary school teacher, initially started the tournament as a way to teach his students about giving back to the community. The first two years the proceeds were donated to autism awareness, and last year it was held to raise money for "Bizzie," who had been diagnosed with the inoperable tumor just months before.  

"It's a great way to bring everyone together for a good cause," Angela Londergan said. "And it teaches the kids how to give back."  

Those who participated or came out to support were treated to food and drinks courtesy of ShopRite's Sunrise Kitchens Catering, Starbucks, of Denville and Dippin' Dots ice cream. The three sponsors donated a portion of their proceeds to the Hebberd family.

In addition, music was provided by Associate Productions LLC, of Garfield, and raffles and silent auctions were held to benefit the family.

Among the items up for auction were four tickets to a Mets game and a jersey signed by former Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet. Several local businesses chipped in as well, with the Lakeland Hills YMCA offering a one-year family membership and Harold's Deli offering a gift certificate.

As for the five-on-five flag football tournament, there were four teams competing in the women's division and 10 on the men's side, and all came out to show their support for the cause.

"I played last year in honor of Elizabeth Stein. This is a great charity, and I wanted to come out to support it," said Jamie Voto, a Parsippany resident who fielded a team for the tournament.

Others came out even though they would not be competing.

"I'm here to help a good cause," said Mike Pietrowicz, a Parsippany Hills High School football player heading into his senior year.

Pietrowicz, who was helping out as a referee for the games, described the event as "a good time all-around," and said he wanted to get involved because he knows Peter Hebberd.

For more information, visit the Bizzie Bowl website.