New Film Chronicles Ridgewood Resident's 'Unusual' Fight Against Lymphoma

A 22-year-old Ridgewood resident battling cancer for a third time is the subject of a new documentary debuting in Montclair Wednesday night.

According to a HuffingtonPost.com article by Ken Spooner, a Rivervale resident who made the film with Mike O’Brien, of Westwood, To Be Strong follows Anthony Daniels in his third fight against Lymphoma.

According to the post, the purpose of the movie is two-fold: to help Daniels find a “perfect match” bone marrow donor, and to inspire others battling cancer.

Because Daniels’ condition is so rare, finding a match has been extremely challenging, Spooner said. The filmmakers follow him as he deals with the disease and the search in an unusual way – by boxing and weightlifting.

“He goes to chemotherapy in the morning and when he is finished with his treatment, heads straight to the gym to start boxing,” Spooner writes on the HuffingtonPost.com.

“Daniels uses the power of positive thinking and physical exercise to fight off his illness.”

The film premiered at Montclair State University Wednesday night.