Two Suffolk County law enforcement hockey teams will play a charity game Saturday, Nov. 15, to raise money for the Strohm Foundation, which supports first responders affected by 9/11-related illnesses.
The game begins at 7 p.m. at Clark Gillies Arena, 575 Vanderbilt Parkway in Dix Hills Park. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Hockey Team will face the Suffolk County Police Department. Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. and correction officer Bryan Stoothoff are among those on the roster.
“This is our fourth annual charity game, and we try to pick a nonprofit or a cause that would benefit those in Suffolk County,” Stoothoff said. “The original game was in 2022 to raise money for a Suffolk County district attorney investigator (Kevin Meyer) who suddenly passed. We raised over $10,000 for the family of the fallen district attorney investigator.”
Hockey was chosen because of the sport’s popularity among Long Island first responders and law enforcement. Stoothoff said he expects more than 500 people based on online ticket sales.
The Strohm Foundation works with the Stony Brook Medicine World Trade Center Health (and Wellness) Program.
“It’s a very important cause, especially for those in the first-responder community. They greatly assist those who are battling 9/11 illnesses including mostly cancer. They are also one of the leading agencies on research to assist those with 9/11 cancers and illness,” Stoothoff said.
He added that the foundation is particularly “near and dear” to Sheriff Toulon, who is a three-time cancer survivor and served in New York City as a member of the NYC Department of Correction.
Some team members said the events of 9/11 influenced their decision to enter law enforcement.
“Based on the events of 9/11, we felt a need to serve and better our communities after seeing what happened,” Stoothoff said.
Both the county’s Sheriff’s Office and Police Department sent teams to assist in the aftermath of 9/11. While Stoothoff could not provide a number of county residents affected by Ground Zero-related illnesses, he said the number is significant, noting “for Stony Brook Medicine to open the World Trade Center Health Program in Commack.”
The Strohm Foundation’s Facebook page reports that 50,000 people have been diagnosed with cancer related to 9/11, without specifying county residents.
The event is family-friendly, with free admission for children under 12 and a $10 donation for others. County Executive Edward Romaine and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina are expected to attend.
For more information, visit the website.