Poker Run for Cancer

November 9, 2008

The Tampa Police are planning a poker run to benefit a young cancer patient and people are already signing up. The ten month old girl is named Bella Villanti, and she is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Villanti is the granddaughter of Bryan and Cherie Adkins, both of whom are Tampa Police officers. She is undergoing the chemotherapy as without it she is only looking at a 40% chance of survival.

The police department got the idea of a poker run to raise money to help with her medical bills as they are getting to be astronomical. Both police and motorcycle enthusiasts will be participating in the poker run which is taking place this weekend.

One of their Sergeants, Eric Diaz has already raised more than $2,000 to help them by doing calisthenics for 24 hours. The poker run will start at Rapscallions restaurant on Bell Lake at 4422 Land O’Lakes Boulevard. They will have people at each stop to collect poker card hands.

The poker run will run through both Pasco and Hernandez Counties and will end up at Beef O’Brady’s in Wesley Chapel. The poker run will be completed by 4 pm on Saturday. Then there will be silent auction after the poker run, with some great gifts being donated on to raise more money.

Registration is $20 per bike and $15 per passenger – and will run from 10-11 am.