Candlelight Vigil For Brooke Healey Set For Monday

Community members are invited to a Candlelight Vigil for Brooke Healey, a 4-year-old New Providence girl who is battling an inoperable brain tumor.

Organized by family friend Maria Mazzone, the vigil is scheduled for Monday from 8 to 9 p.m. at the Our Lady of Peace Church Soccer Field. If it rains, the vigil will be moved to Monday, Aug. 12 at 8 p.m.

“It’s a time for prayer and reflection. We’re not doing donations or anything like that,” Mazzone said at the July 22 New Providence Council meeting. “There will be a short opening speech, then Father Bill [Mahon of Our Lady of Peace Church] will lead us in prayer, and then there will be a short closing speech.”

Mazzone said residents attending the vigil should bring a candle and/or flashlight. For anyone who cannot attend, Mazzone is asking residents to light a candle in a window or on a doorstep for Brooke. 

“Father Bill is so kind and generous, and is letting us have it right there in the church area,” Mazzone said. “He said everyone can park in the church parking lot.”

Our Lady of Peace Church is located at 99 South St. and the vigil will take place on the church’s soccer field, located between the tennis courts and the church parking lot.

Brooke, the daughter of New Providence residents Stefani and Steve Healey, was diagnosed in January with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, very aggressive tumor in the middle of her brain stem. 

Since then, Brooke’s family has been looking into alternative treatments, which can be very costly. Brooke’s battle with DIPG has prompted numerous community members to organize fund-raisers to aid her family in their time of need.

The most recent fundraiser was “Dine for Brooke” at the Beacon Hill Restaurant & Tavern in Summit on July 24.

The next fundraiser for Brooke will take place at Summit’s National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Community members can pay $5 and get three shots at dunking a police officer. 

On Aug. 10, “Band Together for Brooke” will take place at Crossroads in Garwood from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight. There is a $10 to get in to see five different performances.

All proceeds raised at both fundraisers will go to the Healey family.

For more information about upcoming fundraisers and to read more about Brooke, visit www.brookehealey.com.