A fundraiser has been scheduled for Brad Sell, a 33-year veteran of the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping distribution industry, who is battling prostate cancer that was diagnosed about two years ago. An auction and roast with a $100 per plate dinner and entertainment by comedian Jimmy Tingle is planned for June 4th at the Sheraton Towers in Framingham, Mass. Tingle, whose Web site is www.jimmytingle.com, volunteered his time.

Auction gifts are needed. Checks can be made payable to the Brad Sell Foundation.

Sell served as secretary of the Plumbing & Heating Manufacturers Representatives of New England, Inc., and was executive vice president/secretary of two East Coast regional associations of the American Supply Association (New England Wholesalers Association and the New York State Plumbing & Heating Wholesalers). In 2000 ASA appointed him regional association executive of the Middle Atlantic states association, formerly MAWA, and executive vice president of the Wholesalers Association of the North East (WANE). He also served as chairman of ASA's Regional Association Executives Council and was a member of ASA's Education Foundation.

More recently he has completed training for a position as Chaplain in the nationwide nursing home ministry conducted by Community Chaplain Service Inc., and is currently taking classes to become a hospice chaplain with Beacon Hospice, Inc.

In addition, he is working with wholesalers F.W. Webb Co. of Burlington, Mass., North Shore Plumbing Supply Co., Flushing, N.Y., and Schmidt's Wholesale Inc., Monticello, N.Y., to spread the message that all men should have an annual PSA test for prostate cancer beginning in their mid-30's. His message is posted on the Web site: www.northshoreplumbingsupply.com.

The June 4 fundraiser will provide assistance with Sell's medical bills (he has to pay for his own insurance) and will help his family (two sons will be in college this fall). His oldest son, Dana, is a junior at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Mass., and his youngest son, Courtney, will be graduating from high school in June and attending Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y., in the fall.

For more information, contact Steve Berger, Jr., president of Modern Supply Co., 99 Danbury Road, New Milford, Conn. 06776, 1-800-241-3184, ext. 12 or email: stevejr@bathnet.com.