A flyer advertises a May 1 event fundraiser organized by the RoccoStrong Committee, a local group benefitting efforts against childhood cancer. (Courtesy: Billy Contreras)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Organizers of a Sunday fundraiser in Charleston expect a large turnout of people hoping to help the fight against childhood cancer.
Billy Contreras — head of the RoccoStrong Committee, named for Rocco DiMaggio — said they expect up to 2,000 people at the community event set to be held at the Kreischer Mansion on Arthur Kill Road.
“Their fight is our fight and they’re not alone,” Contreras said of kids battling pediatric cancer and their families. “We want the kids to come out and just enjoy themselves.”
The committee, a joint effort between Contreras’ group, Bikers Against Child Abuse and Rolling Thunder, held its last logistical meeting Thursday night ahead of Sunday.
Gabriella DiMaggio, Rocco’s mom, hosted the group’s final meeting at the family’s home in Great Kills, and said the support of the community is what’s helped her son’s condition improve.
Rocco still requires some treatments, but his mom said things are trending much better than at the height of his battle with stage-four neuroblastoma. She said she likes to stay in contact with other families with kids battling cancer as a way to show the support that helped her family through the difficult times.
“I like to show parents that you got to keep going, moving forward,” DiMaggio said. “The support was actually what helped us to get through.”
Sunday’s event in Charleston will feature music performances, free food, raffles, and a variety of kids’ rides — all for a $20 entrance fee, Contreras said.
With most of the event’s supplies being donated, proceeds from the entrance fee will benefit six Staten Island families with kids battling pediatric cancer and the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, operated by the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island at Staten Island Academy. Two of the families’ children are still undergoing chemotherapy.
The camp is a Staten Island institution that offers kids with cancer and their siblings a summer day camp experience completely free of charge.
Contreras said that Sunday’s event will kick off with an opening ceremony and run until 7 p.m. The event is being held in honor of Frank “Proshow” Provenzano, who died in March after a battle with cancer. Prosho Sound Services, the business he founded, donated the stage for Sunday’s event.
In addition to the stage, Kreischer Mansion donated the space, Ink Couture contributed a $500 gift card to be raffled off, Flagship Brewery donated beer for the event, and 20 different local restaurants donated food:
“The community will come together, and we’re going to make some noise here. We’re going to let people know how childhood cancer effects these families,” Contreras said. “We got to stand with them.”
Drive-by celebration for 2-year-old Huguenot boy battling cancer draws hundreds
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said that the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island was operated in Sea View.
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