Buy A Burger, Help Kids with Cancer

Mark Eric Levine left behind more than warm memories when he lost his battle with cancer at age 9.

He left behind a unique burger creation which is being used to help other chidren with cancer. And the entire community is being asked to help make Mark's legacy a great success for the sake of children still waging the battle he lost.

The , at 709 Arnold Ave., Point Pleasant Beach, is holding a "Mark the Shark" burger fundraiser from noon to 10 p.m. Friday in honor of Mark Levine, a.k.a. "Mark the Shark," said Michael Jurusz, 709's executive chef.

The restaurant is selling Mark's unique beef burger creations, which have white American cheese, bacon, shredded lettuce, cole slaw and pickles for $20 each for the fundraiser.

All proceeds from the $20 Mark the Shark burgers will go to the Ashley Lauren Foundation, which provides "hope and help to children in NJ with cancer through financial, material, and emotional support," according to its website.

The cost of the burgers is high only because the restaurant is trying to raise as much money as possible for the foundation and that's where every penny is going, Jurusz said.

The restaurant will also contribute a portion of the day's take to the foundation, servers will throw in part of their tips, and the foundation will have a booth set up for those who wish to make donations, Jurusz said.

Mark and his family had traveled all over New Jersey, tasting various types of burgers, which led Mark to come up with his own recipe.

Then he wanted to see a professional chef cook and feature the burger at a restaurant.

Before that happened, Mark died from osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, on May 30, 2010.

But Mark's family persisted in his search for a chef that would make Mark's dream come alive.

Word of that spread, which led to the Levine family, of Marlboro, meeting Jurusz through Matt Ryan of 94.3 The Point FM radio station.

Jurusz loved the idea of cooking the burger and using it to raise awareness of the Ashley Lauren Foundation and that led to the fundraiser.

"When you hear Mark's story, if you're not moved, you're not alive," said Jurusz. "I'm honored to be the one to make his burger and help out with a fundraiser."

Jurusz, who lives in Brick, said as a father of a 13-year-son, Trevor, he was particularly moved by Mark's story and the ordeal his family has been through.

Joe Introna, of , is baking buns for the burgers and donating them, said Jurusz.

"Joe is one of my best friends, so I went to him and he said yes right away," Jurusz said.

Other ingredients for the burgers were also donated by various food markets and distributors, Jurusz said.

Carl LaManna, who lives in Point Pleasant Beach, opened 709 last year and hired Jurusz, who had been the head chef at Atlantic Bar and Grill in Seaside Park and, before that, at the former Bluffs in Bay Head.

For more information, see the restaurant website or 709 Point Beach Facebook page. Call 732-295-0709 to make reservations, which are strongly recommended.