Local family to hold arthritis fundraiser
Plainview’s Brianna Bollettieri, along with her family, will be holding their seventh annual arthritis fundraiser at Mario’s Ristorante at 635 Old Country Rd., on Monday, May 2, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The family invites the community to support Bollettieri and the 50 million Americans, including 300,000 children, afflicted with this debilitating disease.
Bollettieri was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) almost 10 years ago at the age of 12. The plight of JRA never hindered her determination, nor her spirit, to be the great athlete and accomplished person she was then and still is to this day.
“Arthritis is something that affects everyone and anyone both young and old,” said Bollettieri. “People can [be] diagnosed at any time in their lives, whether it be a soldier fighting for our country who has to be deployed from the onset of arthritis or a new born. Fundraising for this disease can ultimately lead to a cure, which will allow each person affected to be in control of their lives.”
The fundraiser costs $25 for adults, $20 for students, $10 for children (10 years of age and younger) and children under 3 are free. The cost includes dinner and a donation, and is paid at the door. The event will be held in the upstairs level of the restaurant. The restaurant asks guests to please park in the street rather than the parking lot. The dinner is buffet style and it includes the restaurant’s delicious salad, pasta, pizza and soda.
“The ultimate goal of this fundraiser is to assist in the Arthritis Foundation’s initiative of fundraising for research to find a cure, and of course to raise awareness,” she said. “Through my advocacy work with the Arthritis Foundation, I have had the pleasure of meeting numerous people. I’ve seen children in wheelchairs who have been some of the happiest people I have ever met. I’ve also met adults and young adults who have let the disease completely consume them. Everyone deserves to accomplish everything they want in life. Arthritis is only one of life’s many obstacles, [it is] not the end of the road.”
For the past seven years, Brianna and the rest of the Bollettieri family have been raising money at this event for the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk to Cure Arthritis, a nationwide annual walk for the disease, which is held to spread awareness and raise money for research. Bollettieri has her own team for the walk, Bri’s Buddies. Bollettieri asks that you join her in raising money for her team on May 2 at Mario’s, as well as at the walk on Saturday, May 21, at 9 a.m., at Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon.
If you would like to make a donation to Bollettieri’s team or if you cannot make the fundraiser and would like to donate, go to her link at www.walktocurearthritis.org/longisland/brianna.
For more information about this event or about the Walk to Cure Arthritis, contact Mara Bollettieri at drmarab@aol.com.
