NJ Assemblyman Honors South Hackensack Scouts

SOUTH HACKENSACK, N.J. — A South Hackensack Girl Scout troop, Westwood mom and Lyndhurst cake master were honored on Thursday evening by New Jersey Assemblyman Gary Schaer for their efforts in helping a 5-year-old boy battling brain cancer.

New Jersey Assemblyman Gary Schaer came to South Hackensack's council meeting just to honor the local troops, and everyone who helped bring joy to a youngster battling cancer.
Photo Credit: *Kerri Burghardt*

Schaer presents Westwood's Annie Joachim with a certificate of recognition.
Photo Credit: *Kerri Burghardt*

Lil Ryu of Little Ferry, 5, smiles — largely thanks to Bergen County moms and scouts.
Photo Credit: *Agatha Okumara*

The South Hackensack Girl Scouts who helped make Lil Ryu's Christmas, birthday and New Years that much more joyful.
Photo Credit: *Special To Daily Voice*

Joachim proudly displays her certificate.
Photo Credit: *Annie Joachim*

Tenafly native and South Hackensack Girl Scout Troop Leader Kerri Burghardt.
Photo Credit: *Kerri Burghardt*

Schaer honors Lyndhurst's Arlene Murray of Polkadot Cupcake Shop.
Photo Credit: *Kerri Burghardt*

A group shot at the meeting.
Photo Credit: *Special To Daily Voice*

Cecilia Levine

02/02/2017 11:00 p.m.

Westwood's Annie Joachim, who runs the Bergen County Moms Facebook page, launched a toy drive for Little Ferry's Lil Ryu after a Daily Voice reporter brought the story to her attention.

Some of her 13,000 members brought gifts, which Joachim delivered to Ryu's mom, Agatha Okumara, around Christmas and New Years, as he spent both — along with his fifth birthday — in the hospital.

Lyndhurst mom and Polkadot Cupcake Shop owner Arlene Murray baked Ryu's birthday cake for him. Tenafly native Kerri Burghardt's South Hackensack Girl Scout, and a local Daisy troop, wrapped more than 100 gifts for him before delivery.

Schaer came to a closed City Council meeting to honor the women and youngsters.

Meanwhile, Lil Ryu, a Dumont native, continues to fight.

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