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Renowned comedian will be the star of upcoming benefit

SOUTH HADLEY Renowned comedian, Vinnie Mark will be turning laughs into wheelchair ramps on Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Adelfia Restaurant/Banquet Hall, 506 Granby Road (Route 202).

Mark and two local favorite comedians will put their humor in the service of the growing number of persons with disabilities and frail elders who need ramps to keep living at home and who are turning to the Home Sweet Home program to make this happen.

Home Sweet Home is a program of Stavros Center for Independent Living that coordinates local resources, donations and volunteers to build wheelchair ramps for folks who want to stay independent. Home Sweet Home has been in existence just over a year and got 10 ramps built in twelve months.

That hasn't made much of a dent in the need. There's a waiting list of more than 55 people, and it keeps growing. Comic Relief for Ramps will be a benefit to raise resources and awareness so people who use wheelchairs can remain independent and in their own homes.

The Comic Relief for Ramps event will feature Vinnie Mark who has been performing for the past 20 years and has appeared on "Late Night With David Letterman" "VH-1 Stand-up Spotlight" and has opened for Kevin James, Ray Ramano, Brett Butler, Rodney Dangerfield and many more. Vinnie has appeared on the Norwegian Cruises and Royal Caribbean and Disney.

Vinnie is a master of non-stop laughs and will leave grinning from a great night out. Opening this wonderful evening of comedy will be two local favorites, Tom Jenkins and Ron Picard.

Stavros Center for Independent Living is an agency that provides services to over 6,000 persons with disabilities each year in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.

If you need more information of Comic Relief for Ramps event or Stavros services and the Home Sweet Home ramp project please contact Lois Brown at 413-256-0473 ext. 240 or by email lbrown@stavros.org. Your support in promoting this exciting and important project is deeply appreciated.