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Police, Firefighters' Football Goal Is To Help A Sick Boy

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Angelo Cerchione, 7, attends a pep rally in advance of Saturday's Badge Bowl, a fundraiser to help the boy in his battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2008

TAMPA - Seven-year-old Angelo Cerchione enjoys being a star.

The boy, who suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, stood up through a car's sunroof this week at a Tinker Elementary School pep rally in his honor.

Saturday, he and his family will head to Wharton High School to watch Tampa police officers and firefighters face off in the Badge Bowl, a fundraising flag-football game that each year benefits a child with cancer.

Organizers chose to feature Angelo this year, in part because his father, Air Force Staff Sgt. Eddie Cerchione, was overseas when Angelo was diagnosed in 2005, Tampa Fire Rescue driver-engineer Mike Pease said.

Eddie Cerchione now is home. The family, which includes a 10-year-old sister, is awaiting the results after Angelo's latest chemotherapy treatments.

"Keep your fingers crossed for good results," said Katie Cerchione, his mother.

About 2,500 people attended last year's game, which raised more than $40,000 through admission fees and donations for Brooke Martin, now 6, Pease said. Brooke is scheduled for a bone-marrow transplant after Thanksgiving, he said.

The gates at Wharton, at 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., open at 5 p.m. for a carnival with a 30-foot rock wall, face painting, drawings for prizes, music from Radio Disney and the University of South Florida's showcase marching band. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children.

Angelo can't wait.

"He's ecstatic," Katie Cerchione said. "It's so great to see that other people care. All these kids who go through this deserve something like this to boost their courage up."

For information, go to www.badgebowl.com.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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