The Fighting Italians
Walk to D'feet ALS
First and foremost... THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THE 2007 ALS 5K WALK A GIANT SUCCESS!!!!
Frankie, Alyssa, Sergio and Kelly
With your help, the OC Chapter of ALS was able to raise over $275,000 to help those affect by ALS. More than 70% of all monies raised goes to direct assistance with PALS (People with ALS) and their families in the way of support, equipment and so much more. Thank you to all who walked and all who donated. You made a wonderful difference in someone life!!!!
It was a beautiful & warm fall Saturday morning. Members of The Fighting Italians started arriving & getting their bright red t-shirts on. It was so wonderful to see so many people from so many facets of Sergio's life show up to be there for him!
from old childhood family friends (Lisa Detoree-Trizincki, the DeVaney sisters, Rich & Alan Lynn, & many more) ,
as well as old high school pals (Ken Evans, Chris Churn, Mike Martinez, Dianna Yee-Smith, & others),
current soccer buddies (the LaFosse family, the Salazar family, the Tice family, the Rude family),
& members & families of his soccer team surprising Serg by being there for him (the Benavidez girls, the Jensen gals, the Rivas ladies, Celina Pimentel, etc),
neighbors, friends of friends, friends of Sergio's sisters,
AND SO MANY MORE!
Because The Fighting Italians were the largest walking team, we were honored to be up in front to help in the ribbon cutting ceremonies (along with the team who brought in the most money). With the help of co-captains- sister Sonia & nephew, Brandon Guss, one snip of the ribbon & the walk was on! And Sergio led the way in his wheelchair with the Italian flag flying behind him with his family and friends behind him every step of the way.
It was a truly impressive sight to see as over 100 members of Sergio's team walked around the pond. You could see us from a mile away! A few times around the pond and then it was back to "Camp Italy" where we enjoyed our lunch & talked with old & new friends, taking LOTS & LOTS of pictures & generally having a great time.
Kobe, Sergio's nephew's (Duke) dog won first place in the best dressed dog contest walking away with a giant basket filled with lots of doggy goodies.
Our t-shirt won first place also, taking home a lovely trophy.
It
was a special day for another one of Sergio's nephew's as Matt Liekhus
(Sonia and Ken's son) celebrated his 26th birthday that day. (seen here
with his girlfriend, Ember Hill.)
Last year, The Fighting Italians were a team of 20 family (and friends) who just wanted to help by saying thank you- raising $800 (without much effort). This year- the team of more than 100 people raised over $6100.
And helping in her own very special way, Dr. Marla Hamilton, (Sergio's own massage therapist) offered her services as a Chiropractor and Massage Therapist to anyone who was in need of a little tender physical care.
A big thank you to the Tice family for helping to get Sergio & his family from Corona to Irvine very early that Saturday morning. Thank you to Roland Salazar for gathering up a some of his good friends to help out by walking & donating to the team's efforts. A big thank you to all the friends & extended family of sister's Lucy, Sonia, Norma, Tina & mom, Tina (aka- "Nonna") for adding to the number of walkers & helping to raise money. (Many of these wonderful people had never met Sergio before but they believed in him & his fight & they wanted to help make a difference!) And a huge THANK YOU to all who supported us with love, kind thoughts, & prayers.
Sergio and Kelly Sergio with his sisters & mom
Click on the link to see the list of donors and walkers.
Click on the link to see photos of the day.
(If you would like a copy of a photo or would like to see even more photos of that day, please contact Sonia at sliekhus@pacbell.net and she will help you out.)
Mark your calendar: October 19, 08- The 2008 OC ALS 5K Walk. And be assured that THE FIGHTING ITALIANS are planning to make it yet another terrific & successful day.
Hey, this years walkers!- save those t-shirts- we will be using them for next year's walk also. Want to be part of the team???? Contact Sonia at sliekhus@pacbell.net to register for the 2008 ALS 5K Walk.
***************************************************************************************