Wiffle Ball Tourney to Raise Money for Officer With ALS

Members of the Merrimack Police Department are continuing to raise money for one of their own with dual events next Saturday that will assist Sgt. Ed Pane financially with medical bills and living expenses after being diagnosed with ALS.

On Sept. 29, the Merrimack Police Department is hosting a wiffle ball tournament and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, the proceeds from both being donated to Pane.

The basketball tournament is part of the sixth annual Fall Festival and Business Expo.

The wiffle ball tournament, which begins at 9 a.m. at the American Legion and continue throughout the day.

According to organizers for the event, the wiffle ball tournament is an appropriate way to honor Pane who is an avid softball player.

Pane, a long-time resident of Merrimack and a 1985 graduate of Merrimack High School was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease a year ago and, in November, will retire early from the Merrimack Police Department.

“Unfortunately he's retiring early, which means he won't get his full pension,” said Officer John Dudash, one of the organizers of the wiffle ball tournament. “To supplement his income we're doing whatever we can with fundraisers for him.”

Dudash said they've already held a bowl-a-thon that raised $3,000 to $4,000 and the American Legion helped them with a poker run that raised another $4,000 to $5,000.

Pane was hired by the Merrimack Police Department in 1993 as a part-time officer. In 1996, Pane was promoted to full time and attended the 110th Police Academy. He was assigned to the Detective Division in 2009 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2010. Ed is also a fire arms instructor, simunitions instructor, and a member of the bike squad.

ALS is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The causes for the disease are mostly unknown, as only 10 percent of cases diagnosed are caused by a genetic defect, there is no cure for the disease, which weakens one's muscle movements to the point in which it is difficult to complete everyday tasks.

Due to the effects of the disease, Pane is unable to work.

The organizers of the wiffle ball tournament are currently seeking at least another six teams to play on Sept. 29. Teams can be made up of five people, but only three players are permitted to be on the field at a time.

The entry fee to play is $100 and each team is guaranteed at least three games throughout the day. There are cash prizes for first second and third place – $300, $200, and $150 respectively.

Teams can sign up online at th Sgt. Pane Wiffle Ball Tournament website created for the fundraiser.

During the tournament the grills will also be open and hamburgers and hotdogs will be available for sale – the proceeds of which will also go toward the fund for Pane, Dudash said. Teams have already started signing up.

Dudash said the family-friendly event is open to the public whether you want to play or just watch and cheer the players along.

Some people that have said they'll just stop by to make donations, Dudash said.

“If people just want to stop in and have a burger and watch a wiffle ball game, they can,” he added.

All the information for the tournament is available online at www.sgtpanewiffleballtournament.com. For questions or more information, contact event organizers officers Richard McKenzie or John Dudash at 262-5727, dudash5@comcast.net or mckenzie49@comcast.net

For more information about ALS visit www.alsa.org.