Sereno Warriors set to host second annual benefit

For the second straight year, longtime friends since high school are lending a helping hand to their own, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) will once again play host to the Sereno Warriors Annual Benefit and Auction.

The benefit is designed to help raise funds for the Sereno family. Parents Carmelo and Lina have two children, 12-year-old Salvatore and six-year-old Giovanni, who have been diagnosed with Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD), a disease that causes degeneration in the white matter of the brain and Central Nervous System. There is currently no cure for MLD.

After a successful first benefit, friend and organizer Beth Cassidy and friends are ready to make it bigger than last year’s.

“The thing that is special about it for us is that we all went to OLPH high school together,” said Cassidy. “We have gathered as friends from high school to help our sister Lina, who has two kids that are fighting every day.”

Last year’s event took place on Saturday, September 20, and was deemed a success as nearly 200 people attended the fundraiser. “It was a great event. You could feel the love that day,” Cassidy said. “There was a lot of community support, especially with high school friends, old and new. And it’s really great that OLPH donates the space. Alumni are there and we are very grateful for that.”

This year’s event will follow a similar format to last year’s. “We will have food, drinks, a DJ, an auction, 50/50 raffles and all that type of stuff,” Cassidy said. “It’s to benefit two very sick little boys in need.” T-shirts that read Sereno Warriors will also be on sale.

“The Sereno family has shown great strength since both their boys where diagnosed. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not help much when it is truly needed,” friend and organizer Veronica Dignam said after last year’s event.

The event will be held on Saturday, November 21 from 3 -7 p.m. at Notre Dame Hall at OLPH. Entry to the event is $40 for adults and $20 for children. All proceeds will benefit the Sereno children and help pay for their medical expenses. To purchase tickets, or to make a donation, visit www.serenowarriors.com.