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| The generous support of the Springfield area community again awed Brielle's Brigade supporters following its second annual cocktail party and silent auction June 29. Over $30,000 was raised by the sale of over 120 donated auction items as over 400 people attended the event in the donated clubhouse space of the Springfield Country Club. Said Team captain Ed Moses, "I never cease to be amazed at the generosity of the community in fighting cancer. We sincerely thank all involved." Brielle's Brigade is the team of Springfield area bicycle riders that will pedal over 300 miles Aug. 3, 4 and 5 from the New York border to Provincetown as part of the 28th annual Pan-Mass Challenge which raises money for the Jimmy Fund to fund research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Although money raised by the effort will help all present and future victims of cancer, the team's namesake is Brielle LaPlante, the eight-year-old daughter of rider Billy LaPlante. Brielle underwent a bone marrow transplant in March 2006 to fight acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Brielle was back in school this past year and her strength and determination have helped her resume the innocent life that every child deserves. Brielle's Brigade will be holding their next benefit event July 24 at O'Driscoll's Pub and Restaurant, 2823 Boston Road, Wilbraham. Manager Jim Driscoll has generously offered to donate proceeds from the food and drink sold that evening to Brielle's Brigade and the Jimmy Fund. Entertainment will be provided and a fund time is sure to be had by all. Come enjoy the food and drink at O'Driscoll's and you'll be supporting the cause to find cures for cancer. Persons interested in learning more about Brielle's Brigade can do so by visiting their website at www.briellesbrigade.com. Anyone interested in meeting or supporting the team in person can either stop by O'Driscoll's the evening of July 24 or meet the team as they ride through East Longmeadow on Aug. 3. Their route will take them up North Main Steet from Springfield where they will make a stop at about 1 p.m. at the office of LaPlante Construction, 296 North Main Street. The team will then continue east on Mapleshade Ave. to Porter Road and into Wilbraham. Brielle's Brigade consists of team captain Ed Moses, Paul Cicco, Billy LaPlante, Glen Witwer, Craig Tedeschi, and Jim Creighton, all of East Longmeadow, Mike McLaughlin of Longmeadow, Peter Meunier of Wilbraham and Peter Pessolano of Monson. |