'Carrying on His Legacy of Helping Others'

The charity organization of a Rockville Centre man that honors his father, who perished in the Twin Towers after evacuating its day care facility, will hold a fundraiser this weekend for two children who are coping with devastating illnesses.

The Captain James Corrigan Memorial Foundation will be holding its third annual fundraiser on  Oct. 12 from 2 to 6 p.m. at The Bungalow Bar in Rockaway Beach, located at 377 Beach 92 St. Corrigan was a retired firefighter and a fire safety director at the World Trade Center.

“We are thrilled to be able to help two families in need,” said Brendan Corrigan, of Rockville Centre, who founded CJCMF with his brother, Sean. “Our mission is to help children with life-threatening diseases and honor my dad’s memory by carrying on his legacy of helping others.”

Like in previous year, the foundation has chosen one FDNY family to help, as well as one civilian family.

Two-year-old Jack Foley, the nephew of fallen 9/11 firefighter Michael Kiefer, was diagnosed with a severe and often fatal congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. He had his first open heart surgery at 4 days old and his second at 4 1/2 months old. He will have his third surgery sometime before his third birthday. His family has nick-named him "Super Jack."

Fay McKeveny, who hails from Staten Island, was diagnosed with Leukemia on Nov. 21, 2012.

“At the time, she was an active 12 year old who loved gymnastics, playing the violin, going to school and having fun with her family and friends,” according to a press release. “Now, Fay is unable to do any of those things due to intense chemotherapy treatments leaving her weak and vulnerable to infection. Fay's strength and attitude have been inspirational to her family.”

Fay, now 13 years old, hopes to be able to join her eighth grade class in January 2014. She will be undergoing treatments until January 2015.

Admission for the fundraiser is $50, and includes food, live music and an open bar. Raffle prizes, silent auction items and a 50-50 will be featured. For more information on this event, go to the foundation’s website at http://www.captainjamescorriganmemorialfoundation.com.

To donate to the Captain James Corrigan Foundation go to http://www.captainjamescorriganmemorialfoundation.com/donate.html or email Brendan Corrigan at captcorriganfoundation@gmail.com.

To submit a family in need of assistance due to the severe illness of a child, please contact Brendan Corrigan at captcorriganfoundation@gmail.com.