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On March 1, 2014, The Wonder  Bar in Asbury Park will host the inaugural Sinderella’s Ball concert to benefit Joan Dancy and PALS (People With ALS) Foundation.

Joan Dancy and PALS is an all-volunteer grassroots organization that helps provide services and medical equipment to assist people in Monmouth and Ocean County who suffer from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

The foundation was started by Terry MacGovern, Bruce Springsteen’s long time assistant. MacGovern’s fiancee, Middletown resident Joan Dancy, suffered from ALS. Before she passed away, Dancy asked MacGovern do something to bring resources for people in Ocean and Monmouth counties afflicted with the disease closer to the area. In response to Dancy’s request, MacGovern started the foundation.

Back in 2005, there were little to no support services in the area, according to Mike Damato, a foundation administrator. What started out as a loaner closet for equipment and a few vans to assist with patient mobility has now grown into an organization that serves over 100 people annually, Damato said.

Costs are defrayed through the generosity of local businesses, volunteers, organizations and caring individuals and the foundation gives 96 cents of every dollar raised to patient services, Damato said.

Jay Kanofsky, chairperson for the event, dubbed the event Sinderella’s ball his lifelong friend Sindy, who was stricken with ALS. Sindy depends on the organization for counseling, assitive technology and other resources, he said.

The foundation provides necessary equipment, counseling, assistive technology and resources to Sindy and her husband Lou, Kanofsky said. It also helps them navigate the medicare system, according to Lou. It does not provide funding for research to find a cure or a cause of the disease.

“While someone else is doing the research, you still need people to help families through it everyday,” Lou said.

In terms of support, Lou benefits from the foundation resources as well as Sindy by attending monthly support groups for families and caregivers, he said.

A great deal of difficulty in both treatment and diagnosis of the disease stems from the fact that there is no clear cut test for diagnosis and ALS affects every patient differently, Damato said. Some suffer from no speech, some no movement and some are wheelchair bound, she said.

There in no cure, these patients live every say knowing there is no cure,” she said. “Our organization seeks to make life better for them, but every case is different.”

Sinderella’s Ball will be held to raise money so that The Joan Dancy & PALS Foundation can continue their efforts on behalf of those with ALS. Kanofsky’s goal is to raise $75,000.

The evening at the iconic Wonder Bar will feature well known DJ Lee Mrowicki and four New Jersey based bands including Alex Brummell, Brian Bisbee, Charles Laurita and the Mischief and Matt Wade.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at the door or on-line. Sponsorship opportunities are available and organizers are accepting donations of goods and services for a silent auction to be held that night.

The doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins 8 p.m. Visit www.sinderellasball.org for more information, or call Jay Kanofsky at 732-492-7381.

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