Parsippany first responders compete in wing contest fundraiser

PARSIPPANY - First responders will battle one another  this week, as local police, firefighters and emergency medical service crew members chew it out in a wing-eating competition to raise money for a local infant battling cancer.

The contest for Emma Wyman, a 1-year-old Parsippany girl who suffered a stroke and is undergoing treatment for cancer, is one of several fundraisers over the next few weeks to help fund her recovery.

All are invited to attend the contest organized by the Parsippany Police PBA Local 131 and Parsippany Buffalo Wild Wings, on Saturday. The fundraiser will run all day, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. at the 1540 Route 46 location, with the competition taking place at 2 p.m.

Those interested can go to the Parsippany Police Facebook page to print out tickets that will allow 15 percent off purchases - excluding tax, tip, and alcohol - during those hours to benefit Emma. They can also watch Parsippany police officers, Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance Car 65 and the Parsippany Volunteer Fire District 6 compete in a wing-eating contest.

“Considering that the Parsippany PBA is coordinating and the fact that I am in law enforcement and we are both Parsippany residents, we are thrilled and humbled,” said A.J. Wyman, Emma’s father and a corrections officer at the Morris County Jail. “We also both love buffalo wings, especially from there.”

A.J. Wyman and wife Lindsey, a sixth grade social studies teacher at Brooklawn Middle School, won’t be participating in the contest, but plan to stop by to watch and enjoy some wings.

As for Emma, she continues to live up to the “little warrior” nickname given to her by her parents. She was first diagnosed with an undifferentiated sarcoma in late June and suffered a stroke in July. The family spent all summer in and out of hospitals.

The trio went home as a family for the first time Labor Day weekend, and now the majority of Emma’s appointments are in Morristown or at home, though they still travel to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for chemotherapy.

“Emma is doing great,” A.J. Wyman said. “She just started crawling last week, she can pull herself up more. She’s comfortable at home, more herself.”

Emma continues to recover from her stroke, and in mid-September, she had surgery to remove 99 percent of her tumor.

Now she only has to complete nine rounds of chemotherapy as opposed to 14. With seven down, Emma has two more to go, which her father hopes will be done by the holidays.

The Wyman family is in good spirits, and Emma is on the right path, even if it’s taking a long time to get there.

Wyman said support for Emma has continued to grow in recent months, with her Facebook page, “Emma’s Angels,” now eclipsing 3,100 fans. Those “Angels” have raised more than $117,000 as of Thursday.

In addition to the You Caring crowdfunding website, funds have also been raised by “Emma’s Angels” through a T-shirt campaign and a Morristown bar crawl and other events.

A pancake breakfast fundraiser was held at the Parsippany Applebee’s last weekend and this Saturday there will be a beefsteak dinner, sold out weeks in advance.

“We wanted to figure out a way to thank people, a big get-together, and it quickly turned into its own beast,” A.J. Wyman said. “I really wish there were more tickets to offer.”

A local church is also having a pizza meet and great with Santa in December.

Go to youcaring.com/emma- marie-wyman-389549 to donate or to facebook.com/emmamarie1018?fref =ts&ref=br_tf for more pictures, video and updates on Emma's progress.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com