Car Wash Fundraiser Slated for MTHS Students

A car wash slated for later this month will benefit the families of two Manchester teens who have been battling health issues.

Proceeds from the Restoration Family Worship Center event at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department headquarters on Saturday, April 28, will be donated to the families of Trevor Martin and Justine Applegate, both sophomore students at . Volunteers will clean cars at the 2848 Ridgeway Rd. location from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., said Eugenia Lawson, who runs the Manchester branch of the congregation along with her husband, Eric.

"Our pastor, Rev. Glenn Wilson, has charged our congregation about the need to be relevant in the community," Eric Lawson said in a statement. Church members wanted to find a way to help out the community. Mayor Michael Fressola supported the idea of helping the families, according to Lawson.

Martin was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in February. A Hawks basketball player who wears number 32, Martin has been receiving chemotherapy treatment for the cancer — which affects blood and bone marrow — at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Earlier that same month, Applegate, , a disease that causes narrowing of blood vessels in the lungs, received a double lung transplant. Her father, Charles Applegate, said that he hopes his daughter can return home to Manchester in the latter portion of April. 

Several other fundraising efforts have been held in support of the Martin and Applegate families. Basketball benefit games were played for Martin in February and March; last month the Manchester PBA donated money to help pay Applegate's expenses.

Restoration Family Worship Center is located in Howell. Manchester's group, which meets Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lawson's home, is one of six throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties. To make a donation or find out more information about the group, call Eugenia Lawson at 732-620-1410.