Paradise Grill and Short's Marine donate $12,108 to Tunnell Cancer Center

Long Neck-area businesses Paradise Grill and Marina, and Short's Marine partnered and held combined fundraising events this year that raised a total of $12,108 to help patients at Beebe Healthcare's Tunnell Cancer Center.

The two events that drew several hundred people were the fourth annual Flounder Pounder Open in August, and the second annual Crushing Cancer 5K in October. Nearly 200 boats participated in the three-day fishing tournament that offered a grand prize of $50,000. The 5K brought participants to Pot-Nets Bayside where they were treated to a free buffet at Paradise Grill, as well as entertainment provided by Mike Hines and The Look band.

Al Tortella and Sandy Samsel of Paradise Grill and Juli Decker of Short's Marine presented the check to Judy Aliquo, president and CEO of Beebe Medical Foundation, and Cherrie Rich, RN, executive director of Oncology Services at Beebe Healthcare.

"Our staff and our patients at Tunnell Cancer Center appreciate this generous gift," said Rich. "It is so wonderful to feel the support of the community, especially for the patients and their loved ones. They know that they are not alone."

Paradise Grill owner Al Tortella said his business and Short's Marine teamed up to make the events bigger and better. "We would like to thank our biggest and most generous sponsor, the Pot-Nets Communities! Rob and Robert Tunnell could have not been more supportive to these two events benefiting the Beebe Tunnell Cancer Center named after their family," Tortella said. "We would also like to thank our many sponsors. We see these events getting bigger every year. We are so pleased and proud to support our local cancer center and to know that the dollars remain in Sussex County." Tortella also gave a special thanks and shared how inspired he was by Sarah McGann and Avery Smith for donating the $132 they raised at their lemonade stand.

Juli Decker from Short's Marine said, "We are proud to have the opportunity to be involved with such a great cause. We look forward to our continued involvement with Paradise Grill to help support the Tunnell Cancer Center. It is a much-needed asset to our local community."

Judy Aliquo said, "We are so grateful to our Paradise Grill and Marina and Short's Marine for choosing to support our local cancer center. We have seen a recent trend in local fundraisers and organizations choosing Beebe as their beneficiary, mainly because local businesses want to support their local hospital and cancer center rather than larger cancer agencies where monies are not spent here in Sussex County. Give where you live is a common desire among our local businesses and donors."