Blue Claws and Point Police-Firefighter Games Held Last Night to Help Local Girl

The Lakewood Blue Claws and Point Pleasant Borough police vs. Point Pleasant Beach firefighters had a fundraiser softball game Sunday night to help a Point Borough girl in the fight of her life.

A Blue Claws game, followed by a separate, fundraiser softball game, "Badges for Charity," were played at the stadium to help a Point Pleasant Borough girl suffering from a rare kidney disease.

The Point Pleasant Policemen's Benevolent Association (PBA) played the volunteer Point Pleasant Beach Fire Department to help raise money for Allie Ciancia, 10,  who suffers from a rare kidney disease called FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomulerosclerosis), according to Ruthi Blaum Grabowski, her grandmother.

"Allie will eventually need a kidney transplant as this effects both kidneys," said Grabowski, who lives in Toms River.

Allie lives with her parents, Barbara and Bob, and six siblings on Bay Avenue and is about to start fifth grade at

Tickets, which were good for the Blue Claws game and the softball fundraiser, were $10 per person for all ages, with $3 going towards the fund.

The fund will be used to help pay for a large volume of medication and other medical expenses, a crucial need since Bob Ciancia has been out of work, said Mike Ryan, Blue Claws Director of Marketing and a Point Beach fire department lieutenant.

Those who would prefer to skip the Blue Claws game and attend only the softball fundraiser could do so, Ryan said. Around the seventh inning of the Blue Claws game, visitors were to enter the stadium for free and can see Ryan, team members or family members to make a donation to the family fund, Ryan said.

Grabowski, Allie's grandmother, said Allie was diagnosed with the disease when she was five years old, missed almost her entire kindergarten year and had to be home-schooled.

Allie's parents, Barbara and Bob Ciancia, have been living in the house on Bay Avenue for the past 14 years. Allie's siblings are: Matthew, 13; Angelina, 12; Anna, 11; Alaina, 9; Krista, 5 and Markie, 2. 

Grabowski has expressed deep appreciation to the Point Borough PBA, the Point Beach firefighters and Bay Head Police Officer George Duffy for their interest, planning, coordination and support and to everyone attending the game and contributing to the cause.

The police and fire departments have been facing off on the field for the past 10 years, each year picking a different charitable cause.