SBHS Grapplers Go Blue to Support Teammate's Mother Fighting Scleroderma

The South Brunswick High School wrestling team is continuing a yearly tradition to show solidarity with a teammate battling a hardship, while raising money for a good cause in the process. The grapplers will be dyeing their hair blue for this weekend's District Wrestling Tournament at SBHS, to support Lilian White in her fight against scleroderma.

White, 44, is the wife of Fran White Sr., a long time PAL wrestling coach, and mother of senior varsity wrestler Fran White Jr.

She received a bilateral lung transplant on Feb. 7, after being diagnosed with Scleroderma four years ago. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disorder, where the body attacks itself, and can often result in a thickening of the skin and the scarring of internal organs. 

The disease affects about 14 out of every 1 million people worldwide, and most frequently attacks women between the ages of 35 and 54-years-old, according to the Scleroderma Foundation.

White was diagnosed with an advanced case of scleroderma, which caused severe scarring to her lungs. The last four years have presented many challenges for the family, as White was misdiagnosed for over a year, and tried various attempts at drug therapies, while managing daily challenges caused by the disease, according to her fundraising web site. 

White was born and raised in South Brunswick, where she lived with her parents, Anna and Fred, and her siblings Patsy, Carmine and Dolores. She met Fran White Sr. in high school, with whom she eventually married.

To show solidarity, the SBHS wrestling team will be dyeing their hair light blue for the color for the Scleroderma Foundation, while hosting a fundraiser for the White family and the Lilian Valentino White Fund. This event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 18 at SBHS during the District Wrestling Tournament.

Milazzo & Mattey Salon in Milltown is again providing a discount for the team to perform the dye jobs in support of the White family.

In previous years, the efforts of the South Brunswick wrestling family and the community have been greatly successful in raising funds for charity.  Last year, the squad dyed their hair red to support Brandon Dominguez, the younger brother of David Dominguez, a district champion from the 2010-11 team. Brandon has been battling brain cancer since December 2010.  

Residents can help by:

• Dropping off baked goods to the HS on Sat., 2/18/12 as early as 7:30 a.m.
• Drop off individual sized drinks (water, soda, juice, ice tea, etc. These items will be sold to raise funds)
• Monetary donations/gift certificate donations for the family to local restaurants/food stores/gas stations, etc.
• Product or gift certificates donations to be used in a raffle.

In addition to the district tournament fundraiser, Capriccio’s Restaurant will host a “Day for Lil” on Sunday, Feb. 19. Capriccio’s will donate 17 percent of all dine-in or take-out cash purchases this Sunday to the White family and the Lilian Valentino White Foundation.

Capriccio’s will also be distributing cards for designated days where customers can use the cards for cash purchases of any large dine-in or take-out pizza. Capriccio’s will then donate $2.50 per pie to the foundation and the White family. 

Click here to make a donation to the foundation.

If you would like make a donation by check, please make checks payabe to Lilian White and send your donation to:

Lilian Valentino White Fund, 
234 Tintern Court
 Somerset, NJ 08873.

If you would like further information, please feel free to contact by email LilianValentinoWhiteFund@gmail.com.