Halloween Eve kicked off Sunday night in Saddle Brook as a fundraiser to raise awareness of cancer.

Drums could be heard blaring as the sound of people coming together in prayer.

"It's music to express our feelings and what we go through in our lives," explained autism advocate Ryan Roy.

"Having fun is really what it's all about and if we could throw a few dollars into the till, it makes it so much more worth it," said drummer John Cameron.

For 17 years, Drums From Heaven has offered music, family and fun but the message behind the music is much greater.

"Last April, we did a fundraiser for my nephew Michael Fano. He battled cancer for a year and passed in September," said Tommy Purple Hayes, founder of Drums From Heaven.

Hayes said the proceeds will go to a trust fund for Shane Fano, Michael's 11-year-old son.

"We're doing this for him, we bring people together. If we get 100 people, it's a really good thing and I think we got that today," he added.

"Drums From Heaven has been a special part of my life for years and what Tommy does and the amount of hours he puts in is just incredible," Cameron said.

Those who participated said it was healing in more ways than one.

"We release so much of that out of our chest, without letting it haunt so much in our mind," Roy said.