BUENA — Someone made a fast break with an autographed photo of a Philadelphia 76ers player that was intended for a charity auction to
raise money for a sick child. Michael, a Vineland resident, was recently diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder in which the body doesn’t make enough blood cells because the bone marrow’s stem cells are damaged. The purpose of the benefit was to help defray Michael’s mounting medical and travel costs. Every other day, he treks to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for blood transfusions. Wright said she wrote to the 76ers organization several weeks ago requesting an item to include in a Chinese auction at the benefit. The team responded by sending a framed, autographed photo of guard Willie Green, with a letter of authenticity. The photo was among several prizes at the benefit, including gift baskets and a weekend in the Poconos. A large number of tickets were sold to people trying to win the photo, Wright said.
Late in the evening, after Wright pulled the winning ticket from a hat, she realized the photo had disappeared from a table containing the prizes.