New York Giants center and team captain, Super Bowl Champion and 2006 Sports Illustrated Man of the Year Shaun O'Hara will appear at a "Pep Rally to Save Muhlenberg Hospital" on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 6:00 p.m. at Hub Stine Field.
O'Hara is coming to the rally to give his support to community efforts to keep the vital urban acute care hospital from closing. Area residents want Muhlenberg to remain open as a full service hospital.
Since the announcement of the planned closure of Muhlenberg by its corporate parent, Solaris Health System, there has been a groundswell of opposition to the shutdown of the hospital which serves 35,000 patients a year.
O'Hara's appearance is being facilitated by Dr. Brian Fertig, a physician at Muhlenberg, who supports the cause of keeping the 131 year-old hospital open. Dr. Fertig has treated O'Hara's father as a patient.
Fertig's father established the coronary care unit at the hospital as well as the cardiac cath unit, rated number one for angioplasty in New Jersey.
O'Hara's background also helps to explain his interest in this issue. He is a New Jersey resident and was a local gridiron hero as a student in this state. He played football for Hillsborough High School and Rutgers University.
Shaun O'Hara hails from Hillsborough.
The event is being co-sponsored and supported by a tri-county coalition of individuals and groups including the Plainfield Branch of the People's Organization For Progress which has held weekly meetings and six demonstrations, including a rally at the State House in Trenton, to protest the closing of the hospital. Also included is the 'Buy Muhlenberg' committee which is spearheading an effort to purchase the hospital.
In addition to remarks by Shaun O'Hara, the event will include musical selections and presentations by local elected officials, religious leaders, community activists, and other dignitaries.
'SAVE MUHLENBERG' RALLY Tuesday, April 29 6:00 PM Hub Stine Field Randolph Road, across from Muhlenberg
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