by Jill Huber
NJJN Bureau Chief/Monmouth

February 17, 2009

A little pain can result in a lot of charity. The 20 athletes who took part in the sixth annual Pain and Suffering Tournament on Feb. 1 at the Ruth Hyman JCC in Deal raised $10,000 for the JCC of Greater Monmouth County’s kosher meals-on-wheels program.

Last year’s tournament also raised $10,000, and the athletes were determined to match that at this year’s event, Richard Krupnick, tournament founder and organizer, told NJ Jewish News.

It wasn’t exactly easy; the athletes, between ages 35 and 53, competed in 90-minute, round-robin, nonstop, iron man-style sessions of basketball, volleyball, and ultimate Frisbee. According to iron man regulations, only brief water breaks are permitted between each match, and each player’s endurance is sorely tested during four hours of nonstop exercise, Krupnick said.

“Each year, guys go home hurting, but they all wear their bruises like a badge of honor,” said Krupnick of Ocean Township. “Some were carrying trophies, some were carrying door prizes, but all were carrying their heads up high. They said, ‘See you next year — and be ready.’”

Krupnick, a real estate developer and former JCC board member, created the tournament six years ago to help the center attract new members. But two years ago, a reduction in funding for the meals-on-wheels program prompted the tournament participants to raise money to offset the loss, he said.

Edgewood Properties, a real estate and property management company in Piscataway, was the platinum sponsor for this year’s tournament.

“When they heard that we raise funds to provide hot meals to homebound elderly throughout Monmouth County, they came forward to become the corporate sponsor,” said Krupnick. “After Edgewood stepped in, other sponsors also came through. We are grateful to them for their generosity, especially in this difficult economic time.”

Other sponsors that donated money and supplies included Tiberias Spa and Salon; Carluccio, Leon, Dimon, Doyle, and Sacks, Esqs.; Doctors Marvin Talkansky and Larry Turtel; American Insulation Contractors; Brouwer, Hansen, and Izdebski Insurance Co.; the Spector family; the Metz family; Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels; Dr. Charles Hux; Ocean Carting; Invest Financial; and American Insulation Contractors.

Although no serious injuries occurred, the grueling event did take its toll on many of the athletes. But one player, said Krupnick, was actually able to muster the strength to play in a touch football game after the JCC event.

“I received e-mail messages from some of the men,” said Krupnick. “Some said they couldn’t move without ‘pain and suffering,’ and others said they needed help to get in and out of their cars. But they’re a competitive group and they know how lucky they are. They are proud to raise money for a program that provides nutrition and companionship to the elderly population.”

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