Gladiator Fund Raises $11K for New Hyde Park Dad Fighting Cancer

The following article was submitted by Dan Connor

Over 300 friends and family attended a recent "Pig Roast" benefit for Dave Kelnhofer, a local New Hyde Park Volunteer Fireman and former FDNY firefighter at Spanky's Bar & Grill in New Hyde Park.

Kelnhofer contracted a rare cancer, (Amyloidosis) while working at Ground Zero after 9/11.

His wife Fran could not believe how many people turned out for her husbands fund raiser, saying "it is incredible what New Hyde Park does to help someone who is in need."

The crowd of friends and family packed Spanky's Bar and the overflow went into the back parking lock. The New Hyde Park Fire Department also set up a large tent and big screen TV's to accommodate the large turn out for Dave.

"We can always depend on our friends and families to turn out for a friend who needs help," said Dan Connor Chairman of the Gladiator Fund.

Ed Falconer, President of the NHP Lion's Club added that "when Dan Connor calls us, we show up to help."

Joe Connor, a former New Hyde Park Fireman and Gladiator Fund Board member said, "there is no place like New Hyde Park, this is a special place to grow up and live."

Most of the food was donated by Park Deli of New Hyde Park, Rich Sharvin a New Hyde Park Fireman, he cooked a 74 lb. pig for the event and friends and family of Dave's.