PARSIPPANY — The Morris County of the Order of Sons of Italy Lodge 2561 President Louis Amato donated $750.00 to Valerie Fund in support of their upcoming event on Saturday, June 8 in Essex County’s Verona Park. Parsippany resident Bella Rocco, a Parsippany High School Senior, and former patient of Valerie Fund, accepted the donation on their behalf.
Bella has been attending the Walk since 2009 and each year her team, Bella’s Bunch has the distinction of fielding the most participants.
2008-the year it all changed-the diagnosis, Bella’s first surgery, the fear of the unknown. Fast forward to 2019. Bella had three surgeries and continue with MRIs and doctor visits, until anyone tells differently, Bella is a healthy teenager about to graduate Parsippany High School and go off to college in the fall. There were days that no one know if all of this would be possible. They have been blessed with an army of friends and family that have gone through it all. The Valerie Fund has been a part of that army. Team Bella’s Bunch is not so much about Bella although we have named the team after her and it reminds us of all she has been through. Team Bella’s Bunch is more about all the kids in the green shirts that are currently fighting the fight. It’s about their parents that have heard the words out of a doctor’s mouth that has forever changed them. We are all a part of this club that nobody signed up for and so we show up year after for them-the ones that are still fighting to let them know WE ARE WITH YOU! Walk with Bella! Run with Bella! Donate with Bella! Thank you for being a part of Bella’s Bunch 2019 and a part of something so much bigger than all of us.
To participate or donate to Bella’s team, Bella’s Bunch, click here.
Her father, Ralph Rocco is a member the Sons of Italy and recognizes President Lou Amato and the rest of the members of the Morris County Chapter Parsippany #2561’s ongoing commitment to his daughter and other children in their community. Their generous donations continue to help fulfill the vision of Valerie Fund founders Sue and Ed Goldstein.
Nearly 43 years ago, the Goldstein’s began The Valerie Fund to honor the memory of their nine-year old daughter. During the six years of her treatment, Valerie and her parents would often travel several hundred miles a week to a hospital in NYC and they wanted to spare other families with critically ill children the additional suffering of traveling to and from the city for treatment. Their dream was to help children receive high-quality care in a nurturing environment close to their homes.
Today, there are seven Valerie Fund Children’s Centers located in top pediatric hospitals in New York, New Jersey and metro Philadelphia and more than 4,000 patients are treated annually—one of the largest networks of healthcare facilities for children with cancer and blood disorders in the country.
For more information about The Valerie Fund & JAG Physical Therapy 5K Run, please visit TheValerieFund.org/walk.
