Cancer Fundraiser Held in Hopatcong Man's Memory

For three years since the death of Eric C. Blohm, who died of a form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma, his friends and family have thrown an annual Blohm's Birthday Bash, which helps the Eric C. Blohm Foundation raise money to donate to places like the Goryeb Children's Hospital.

"This is probably our most important event of the year," said Samantha DeAngelis, chief information officer for the foundation. "This one is kind of just to celebrate him, a party in his honor."

The 3rd Annual Blohm's Birthday Bash will be held from 2 to 11 p.m. at on Saturday. A $25 admission fee includes food and drinks and the event will also feature a dunk tank, bounce house, and merchandise table and with T-shirts, polo shirts, and bags for sale.

The event, which is organized by friends and family of Blohm, will also be a way for friends to remember Blohm, who was 22 when he died.

"He was great," said Chris Ryan, who is helping with this year's event. "Fun-loving, always had a smile on his face. He was a great kid. Even when he got diagnosed, he was always positive, outgoing, and talked about it to let people know how he was doing."

Ryan said they expect 300 to 400 people at this year's fundraiser.

This year's birthday bash will also feature a new event, "The Boski Cup," which, according to the Facebook event page and the Blohm Foundation website, is a five event obstacle course in which teams of four get to compete through a water bucket race, back to back water balloon drop, five legged race, a trivia round of "Boski Brain Busters" and, for the top three teams, a riddle relay race.

Teams will be charged an additional $40 entry fee, and the first place team gets their name on the Boski Cup, along with other prizes. Second and third place teams take home prizes as well. The competition starts at 3:30 p.m. on the day of the birthday bash.

Teams who are interested in signing up may do so online at the Blohm Foundation website.

Besides Goryeb Children's Hospital, the foundation also uses money to help patients in a similar way to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, except there is no age limit, because Blohm himself was above Make-A-Wish's limit.

At the birthday bash, members of the foundation will be putting up displays and showing people where the money they have donated has been going.

"We'll put poster boards up to show people," said DeAngelis. "What you did last year made this little girl's come true, and to celebrate Eric and his life. It's a way to do both and make good." 

Anyone interested in donating or helping with the event can contact the Eric C. Blohm Foundation at theericcblohmfoundation@gmail.com.