Chris Falzone was doing what he loves most — playing hockey — when his hip started bothering him. What was first thought of as usual growing pains and overuse, since he was playing for the Red Bank Generals and Middletown High School South JV and Varsity, turned into something much more.

Chris was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Mature B Cell Lymphoma, a bone cancer — and while the 14 year old from Atlantic Highlands was very fortunate that it was found so early, and that the prognosis for a full recovery is promising, he will require months of chemotherapy and surgery to heal.

On the night of Friday, June 13, the Friends of Chris invite the public to “Laugh 4 a Cause,” during a night of family-friendly comedy featuring New Jersey’s own “Bad Boy of Comedy,” Mike Marino.

The popular standup comic, who recently filmed scenes for his new TV pilot project Reconstructing Jersey in Monmouth County locations, will headline a multi-performer bill on the program scheduled at 7:30 pm inside the auditorium at Middletown High School North, Tindall Road off northbound Route 35.

Family — particularly his own Italian-American clan — has been a recurring theme in Marino’s comedy, and the family of Chris Falzone family has incurred significant out-of-pocket medical expenses throughout the treatment and recovery process. Through various fundraising efforts, Friends of Chris has raised almost half of their $50,000 goal to help Chris and his family be able to focus solely on his health, rather than the overwhelming financial burden of medical expenses.

Tickets can be purchased for $20 at www.ChrisZone.com — and check in here to keep up to date on Chris’ road to recovery.