Police and firefighters play flag football for a good cause
ASTON >> On the gridiron, it was daughter against father, with 17-year-old Emily Egan serving as honoree captain for officers from the Aston, Upper Chichester and Lower Chichester police departments, while Crozer-Keystone Emergency Medical Services Assistant Chief Bruce Egan was captain for Crozer EMS and the Aston, Chester and Parkside fire departments.
It was a friendly but competitive match as police outscored the competition, 6647, in the first Aplastic Anemia Awareness Emergency Services Flag Football game Saturday at Neumann University.
But the real winners were Nemours Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware, and the Neighbors Helping Neighbors network in Aston – recipients of a $2,000 donation, and myriad canned foods collected for the less fortunate this Thanksgiving holiday, respectively. Each player contributed $20 and two canned foods, according to Aston Officer Shane Coyle, who coordinated the fundraiser with Aston officers Jen Mancini and Tom Giancristoforo.
“A large amount of canned goods were collected to help our families in need in the community during this Thanksgiving holiday,” said Coyle.
Meanwhile, the cash was donated to the renowned duPont facility in Emily Egan’s name, under #Emily Strong. The Sun Valley High School senor was diagnosed with aplastic anemia in July and recently underwent a bone marrow transplant. Her sister, 14-year-old Erin, was her donor.
Prior to “kickoff,” Emily addressed the crowd, expressing appreciation on behalf of her family for their unwavering kindness and support.
“My doctors and nurses at A.I. duPont deserve all the recognition tonight. Without them, there’s no doubt I would not be where I am today,” she said. “In honor of that, the (monetary) proceeds for tonight’s game will go to the DuPont Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, where I am currently receiving treatment.
“One of the truest things about the duPont nurses and doctors, they strive to maximize every child’s quality of life – today and for many tomorrows.”
From there, Emily turned her focus to those in the crowd.
“From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank all of the police, firefighters and paramedics who came tonight to make this a night to remember,” she said.
In talking about Erin, Emily borrowed a quote from the popular Disney movie, “Frozen,” which she believes sums their relationship best: Love is putting someone else’s needs before yours.
“As many of you know,” Emily continued, “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the unconditional love of my sister, Erin. On the evening of July 21, as we were walking in the emergency room for the first time, Erin grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll donate my bone marrow to you if you need it.’”
Those words alone show what kind of caring and considerate sister Erin is.
“I’m so glad we get to live the rest of lives together as sisters,” Emily said.
Last but certainly not least, Emily turned to parents Bruce and Jennifer, her “rocks” during her darkest of days.
“I’ll forever thank you for doing everything in your power to make me healthy and happy again. You two are an unwavering force … I hope to be even a little bit like you when I am older.”
Emily then told her parents and sister, “I love all three of you so much.”
“From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank all of the police, firefighters and paramedics who came tonight to make this a night to remember.” — Emily Egan serving as honoree captain for officers from the Aston, Upper Chichester and Lower Chichester police departments
With that, she opened the game.
At the coin toss, Emily called heads, losing to her dad.
“The Fire deferred and the Police selected to receive,” said Coyle, who quarterbacked for Police.
According to Coyle: Both teams were scoring back and forth early in the
game, with Police striking first. Coyle was throwing to his top two targets, Joe Hart of Aston PD and Chris Gaspari of Upper Chichester PD. Fire, led by Dave Durbano of Aston and Alfonse Brooks of Chester, also received strong play from Cody Brees of Parkside and Tom Fanelli of Chester on both sides of the football. Gordon Pippin of Aston provided the fire with a steady defensive rush.
“Police capitalized off of two interceptions by Aston’s Bob Jones and a stout defensive coordination by Aston’s Tommy Giancristoforo,” offered Coyle. “The Police provided an unmatched fast pace offense, which helped them edge the Fire side.”
Bottom line, the Police defense counted when it mattered – causing turnovers and stopping conversions. But Fire fought hard, Coyle said.
Playing for Police were Coyle, Bob Jones, Tom Bradley Alex Fiore, Joe Hart, Matt Smith, Jason Farrell, John Mancinelli, Kyle Herre, Mikell Jones, Colleen Joyce, Joe Nardone, Dan Sullivan, Chris Gasparr and Matt McCusker.
Playing for Fire and EMS were Kelly McDonald, Jeff Witters, Grace Votta, Rick Connelly, Frank Pizzi, Gordon Pippin, Dave Durbano, Adam Lopez, Marc Calvecho, Matt Tiger, John Dill, Jeff Stewart Chris Dittus, Justin Lee, Mike Gaffney, Charles Rutledge, John Foster, Chris Lamb, Alfonse Brooks, Tom Fanelli and Cody Brees.
Donors and volunteers for the event included Neumann, Manbroso’s To Go pizza, Barnaby’s of Aston, Aston Wawa, Bette’s Bounce, Aston Township, Chester Water Authority, Annie Favingers, Aston Police Chief Daniel Ruggieri, Giancristoro, Jones, Jeffery Hartman of the Sun Valley Art Department, Pat Rafferty of the Sun Valley Athletics Department, Gail Genovese of Northley Athletics and KEG Enterprises.
Egan and wife couldn’t have been more proud of Emily last week, for coming to the game and addressing the crowd.
“She embraced the evening,” he said. “Jen and I are certainly appreciative of the police and fire for putting this event together, and picking Emily’s cause as the beneficiary of those efforts. We were just flabbergasted. But it’s nice to know that our emergency services families that we work so close with have your back.”
Emily, who is currently being home schooled, is looking ahead to high school graduation, and then college where she wants to study journalism and communications. She was in the hospital in the summer when she started sending out applications.
So far, she’s been accepted at seven of the eight institutions, including her
“She embraced the evening. Jen and I are certainly appreciative of the police and fire for putting this event together, and picking Emily’s cause as the beneficiary of those efforts. We were just flabbergasted. But it’s nice to know that our emergency services families that we work so close with have your back.” — Crozer EMS Assistant Chief Bruce Egan
top choice –Neumann University, her dad said.
“This Thanksgiving, there is plenty to be thankful for, beginning with Emily’s sister being a match and all the doctors and nurses doing their thing at duPont,” Bruce Egan said.
The Egans plan to celebrate the holiday at the home of Jennifer’s parents, Gene and Tina Gommer of Aston. Then, Bruce, Jennifer, Emily and Erin plan to make some of their famous turkey soup to share with Bruce’s parents, Rudy and Kris Egan of Ridley Township, along with many other family members and friends.
“Yes, there’s absolutely plenty to be thankful for,” Bruce reiterated. “We have our families and friends to be thankful for helping us through this ordeal.”