North Penn PAL Fundraiser for Lansdale Leukemia Patient Gaining Speed

The April 27 North Penn Police Activities League fundraiser for teenage Lansdale leukemia patient Matthew Knoebel is getting bigger and better by the month.

The highlights of the event, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Penndale Middle School in Lansdale, are three youth versus cops basketball games and two Old Navy teen fashion shows with local North Penn School District boys and girls as models.

On top of that, there will be food, beverages, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and a basket auction.

Auction items donated thus far include:

• A 93.3 WMMR Preston & Stever Show studio tour.
• A 97.5FM one-hour show sit-in with John Marks and Sean Brace.
• Two Phillies Hall of Fame Club tickets.
• Signed Dave "The Hammer" Schultz pucks.
• A Danny Watkins signed Eagles helmet, donated by Neil Hartman and Comcast.
• One-year North Penn YMCA membership.

The event isn't without its appearances either. Schultz, a two-time Stanley Cup NHL champion, is expected to be there, as is three-time NBA World Champion Gerald Henderson Sr. 

Oh, and The Amazing Spider-Man.

At its meeting earlier this month, some members of the North Penn PAL discussed specifics of the cops versus youth basketball games.

The initial idea was to solicit players from various municipal youth basketball teams, but the event could conflict with their seasons and Saturday games. Thus, a majority of the North Penn PAL members thought it would be better, fair and more convenient to solicit players from North Penn schools.

"Maybe we move away from the youth associations, and go to the middle schools. The three middle schools can put three teams together," said North Penn PAL board director Reeves Miller. "That way, nobody feels slighted."

Towamencin Township Police Chief Tim Dickinson, who is the North Penn PAL president, said the games might dovetail into a future event at those schools.

The games are expected to be 20 minutes each, full court, with eight students per team.

"We'd like to get one cop per department," said Towamencin Township Police Officer Pat Horne, executive board member and co-founder of the North Penn PAL. 

The Old Navy fashion shows would take place between each of the basketball bouts.

Aisha Jones, of Old Navy in Montgomery Township, estimated getting about 20 students from Penndale Middle School to sign up as models for the shows.

"About 15 girls and five boys," Jones said.

The 50/50 raffle may be organized in a unique way, using a deck of cards: Participants buy a card for $5 and write his or her name on it. A card is drawn from another deck of cards, and whatever number drawn matches the other card, that person gets half the raffle proceeds.

There was mention during a meeting earlier this month of charging at the door to maximize profits. However, it was deemed that charging entry would turn people off to the event.

"The event is for two things: donations to the family and getting kids to sign up for PAL," said North Penn PAL Vice President and Executive Director Greg O'Brien. 

The next North Penn PAL meeting on the fundraiser is April 3 at 2 p.m.

As far as Knoebel's progress, he underwent a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant Thursday.

Read more on this topic:

• Old Navy Sponsors Fundraiser for Lansdale Youth
• UGFD Surprises Lansdale Teen With Donation
• North Penn PAL Planning Fanatical Fundraiser for Leukemia Patient
• Blood and Platelet Drive for Lansdale Youth on Saturday
• Community Supports Lansdale Youth at Bake Sale Fundraiser
• More Than 300 Attend Pancake Fundraiser for Lansdale Youth