Pop Warner community rallies around local family Mayor's Trophy Game to benefit family of boy with cystic fibrosis BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer FILE PHOTO Anthony Silvestri is pictured in April playing with a toy train at home in Cliffwood Beach. OLD BRIDGE - Win or lose, the Raritan Bay Cougars can consider Sunday's game a victory. The annual Mayor's Trophy event will go beyond touchdowns and tackles to raise money for a local youngster with cystic fibrosis. "It's going to be a great day for football," said Nancy Weber, spokeswoman for the team. "It's going to be a great day for cheerleading, and it's going to be a great day for the community to come together." Three-year-old Anthony Silvestri's family, of Cliffwood Beach, has been involved with the town's Pop Warner football program for years. His grandfather, Luddy, was president of the Cougars for over 20 years, while his father, Kenny, has coached the team for more than a decade. Anthony's mother, Kerryann, coached the cheerleading team up until her son was born. Anthony was diagnosed with the disease when he was 10 days old. His condition requires specialized care, including nebulizer treatments for one to two hours each day, and pulmonary therapy, which comes from a vest he wears that vibrates his body to clear out congestion. "He calls it his superhero vest," Weber said. "He's inspiring, he really is. We refer to him as a little champion. He's a fighter." Since birth, Anthony has often spent time in the hospital. Some symptoms of the disease include an increase in mucous that impairs breathing and other functions, as well as an increased risk of infections. The illness primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. Anthony's daily regimen of medication consists of about 18 pills. "What this kid does every day is just tremendous," Weber said. "I can't imagine what this family goes through on a daily basis. They just tirelessly take care of this baby." Next month, Anthony will be starting an early education program with the township. Starting school at his young age will help to prevent him from getting left back a grade later on, if he must miss classes because of his illness, Kenny said. "The winter months are rough on him," Kenny said. "There is a possibility, at times, that he would miss a full month of school because of an infection." By the time Anthony reaches kindergarten, he will be educationally ahead of his classmates, to ensure his success. Judging by his capabilities now, he will not have any problems. Kerryann said he was beginning to spell at the age of 2, and Kenny said he has an uncanny memory. "He's very bright. He clearly takes after his mother in that regard," Kenny joked. As Anthony gets older, the illness will progress and his treatment will become more complex, unless major strides are made in the medical field. Some progress has been made since the 1950s, when cystic fibrosis sufferers did not live past early childhood. Now, those with the disease sometimes live into their 30s and 40s, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Web site. Both Kenny and Kerryann work in the health-care field, giving them further insight into their son's illness. Considered an "orphan disease" because only about 30,000 people throughout the country have it, cystic fibrosis research and drug development often falls behind other, more prevalent diseases. Fortunately for those who suffer from the illness, 90 percent of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's funds go toward new drug research, and the federal government provides grants to help with the efforts, Kenny said. When Anthony was diagnosed with the most severe strain of the disease, which affects the pancreas, Kerryann set about researching and learning as much as she could about the illness. Dedicating herself whole-heartedly to the cause, Kerryann now speaks to groups on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In their quest to help Anthony, Kenny and Kerryann have worked closely with the foundation to raise money for a cure. A group of more than 50 families and friends have teamed up to form "Anthony's Answer," and have raised close to $77,000 through various fundraising efforts. "The turnout for this family is just incredible," Weber said. "They have a huge support group." Mayor Jim Phillips will attend the event, and said he plans to match the amount of funds raised that day. "The families are pillars of the community, and I think it's great that the league is joining together to help this family," Phillips said. Kenny said the community, including businesses and past council members have donated to the cause generously. "My wife and I are very grateful for all of the assistance that our Pop Warner organization has helped us with," Kenny said. "It touches our hearts every day that people are ... willing to help us in our battle for a cure." At the Mayor's Trophy event, 50/50 raffles will be held throughout the day, and a moonwalk bounce for the children will be run by the cheerleading team. The Cougars will compete against Sayrewood South in games running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held at the Dan Harvey Memorial Field on Cheesequake Road in Parlin.