Benefit For Brunswick Boy With Cancer

The Rensselaer County Deputy Sheriff’s Police Benevolent Association will hold two fund-raisers in support of 10 year old Alexander Holcomb, a fifth-grader at Poestenkill Elementary School, son of County employee Cynthia Holcomb and Sgt. Shane Holcomb of the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, who was recently diagnosed with lymphoma.
A Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament will take place on Saturday, May 14, from 1 to 6 pm at the Eagle Mills Fire House; 627 Brunswick Road (NY Route 2) in Troy. Doors open at 11:45 am and the suggested donation to participate in the tournament is $65. A 50-50 raffle will be held and door prizes will be available for bidding.
A Family Fun Day will be held on Sunday, June 12, from 2 to 6 pm at the Brunswick Elks Lodge; 665 Brunswick Road in Troy.
The event will offer carnival games, a dunking tank and a Bouncy Bounce.  Food and beverages provided by the Brunswick Elks, Nichi’s Restaurant and the Coccadotts Cupcake truck.  Mike DeAngelis of Hair of the Dog, the 3FOUR3 band and Larraoke Entertainment will provide music and entertainment.  Dream Catchers will do face paintings for children and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team will perform a demonstration.  Raffle prizes will be available for bidding.
For the last eight months Alexander has been struggling with pain and discomfort from what doctors originally believed was Crohn’s Disease.  He was given powerful steroids and intravenous treatments and eventually underwent surgery to remove part of his colon earlier this month.  However, shortly after surgery, pathology reports showed that Alexander had lymphoma cancer which can sometimes present itself as Crohn’s disease.
To reserve your seat in the Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament, please contact DeputyPBA@ymail.com.  Donation amount includes food, beverages and prize pool.
For those who cannot attend either event but wish to make a donation, checks can be made out to Shane Holcomb and sent to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, 4000 Main Street, Troy, NY  12180.
For more information, please call Deputy John Panichi at 266-2967.
Anyone who wishes to keep track of Alexander’s progress or send him words of encouragement can sign up for free on carepages.com.  Search his name as all one word in lower case – alexanderholcomb.  Any cheerful messages will be a great help in lifting Alexander’s spirits through these difficult days.