No less than a combined half-dozen members of the Londonderry Fire Department and police department performed wonderfully good deeds for a great cause last Friday night when they took part in the Eighth Annual Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) Battle of the Badges Baseball Classic at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester.
Fire department members Brian and Chris Schofield and their Team Fire teammates from across the Granite State suited up and played against the Team Police contingent made up of police department personel from around the state – including Londonderry police department members Sean Benoit, James Freda, Justin Hallock, and Jack Wagoner – for a much-anticipated event which has become a major fundraiser for CHaD and the kids it serves.
For some of those gentlemen, the CHaD contest served as a great tune-up for the annual Cops vs. Firemen Old Home Days game which will take place this Friday evening – Mother Nature willing – after a year off due to heavy rains last August.
And the cops bagged the 2018 bragging rights in the CHaD series by besting the firemen by a decisive 10-2 tally, with the real winners being the CHaD folks as more than $122,000 was raised.
Precisely 100 percent of CHaD Battle of the Badges Baseball Classic proceeds are used to help CHaD Kids with critical services such as support when they are in pediatric intensive care and management of chronic illnesses. Funds also provide for family support services that are so important to the well-being of kids.
As the 2018 event neared, the cops had a tight hold on the fundraising lead and bragging rights, having tallied some $57,420 to the firemen’s $21,837. But the CHaD folks will absolutely tell you that all funds raised are vital and welcomed.
The game was the brainchild of Nashua firefighter Bill Shea, who wanted a way to help CHaD to continue to offer the best medical care and family support in the state. And Shea is still deeply involved in the annual contest.
As a father, Shea recognized the importance of CHaD’s mission and felt this event would be a natural extension to the CHaD Battle of the Badges franchise, which includes the annual New Hampshire Police vs. Fire hockey game held each April.
As part of the fundraising mission for this event, players commit to fundraising for CHaD while creating a lifelong friendship with a CHaD kid along the way. The 2017 game raised over $100,000 through sponsorships, player investment, ticket sales, and donations. Since its inception, the game has now raised more than $550,000 to support programs that serve CHaD kids and families.