Biker plans fundraiser for Brightside at Cabot Pub II on Dec.6

Date: 12/5/2014

CHICOPEE – Bob “Kaine” Alves pays it forward every chance he has.

Alves, who conducts a Wicked in Pink Run in October to raise funds for the Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, is now gearing up for a new fundraiser titled “Brightside Rocks” on Dec. 6.

“After creating the Wicked in Pink motorcycle ride, I would hear more and more things about Brightside,” Alves said during an interview with Reminder Publications, adding “now being an adopted child, I thought there is an area I can help with too.”

Alves, a cancer survivor, lives every day to its fullest, and relays the importance of helping organizations like Brightside for Families and Children, based at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke.

 “This is a chance for the music going community to get involved with fundraising for Brightside,” he said. “There is no set goal for this year being the first year. We just hope for a successful event and then will set our goal for 2015.”

In the community, Brightside’s counselors and health care professionals help to build families and support individuals through family outreach and stabilization, psychiatric and medication evaluation and management, and special education.

Alves is a local music fan and has enlisted three bands who are volunteering their time to perform and also give back to the community.

“Three great bands, 8 Ways Till Sunday, Split’R Lace, and Star 69, are performing,” Alves said. “Each band is unique and plays a variety of music from the 70s to today.”

Tickets are $10 at the door at the Cabot Pub II, 66 Cabot St. Doors open at 9 p.m.

“Everyone who enters the event will receive a raffle ticket for a $100 Holyoke Mall gift card,” said Alves, adding, “so they can do their shopping for the holidays.”

Alves noted he couldn’t put together a show like this alone.

“I give credit to the bands and my friends who all step in to help,” he said.