Isabella Sartini is going to Disney World and so is Biscuit!
That goal was realized under what Vinny Pezzullo Jr. called “the worst obstacles possible, including gray skies that seemed like it was going to rain any minute.”
Despite old man weather not cooperating, and as Pezzullo Jr. noted “we had to battle huge crowds at the Scituate Art Festival and Columbus Day Festival on Federal Hill, our first-ever Bounce for FUNds was an overwhelming success.”
So much so, in fact, the event – which was sponsored by the
Sponsored by Vinny senior and junior Pezzullo and held Monday at the Johnston War Memorial Park, the event raised $7,000 in honor of Isabella Sartini, the 12-year-old Glocester girl who has been battling Stage 4 Wilms Tumor – a kidney cancer – since she was age 4 and has sustained countless operations and treatments to date.
“The best part about the whole thing,” Vinny Pezzullo Jr. went on, “is that I hardly knew anyone in the park. I only knew the workers … some of the volunteers … it wasn’t even a Johnston resident who we were doing this for.”
Yet, people purchased all kinds of tickets – from raffles to basketball shoots and a chance to climb into or slide down a half-dozen bounce houses the Pezzullo’s – who own and operate My Cousin Vinny’s Rentals of Johnston, set up inside War Memorial Park in hopes of helping Isabella realize her life’s dream of going to Disney World in Florida.
“Even after expenses we raised $7,000,” Vinny Pezzullo Jr. said. “We’ve got enough to send Isabella to Disney with her service dog Biscuit and we’re even going to have enough money to buy her a wheelchair.”
To which Joe Acciardo, Johnston High’s veteran Head Football Coach who Vinny Pezzullo Jr. starred for on the Panthers championship team of 2012, assessed: “What a great display of community caring. This is absolutely fantastic; I’m proud that my players and our cheerleaders chose to take part and volunteer to help raise an extraordinary amount of money in just a few hours.”
Likewise, the JHS Class of 2019, which had a booth manned by Breana Podmaska, Zachary Zambarano and Emily Raposo, had a bake sale with homemade items that once sold raised additional funds in honor of Isabella.
There were other such fun areas where children, as well as some adults, could get a face painting or even a washable wrist tattoo like the one Autumn Sartini, Isabella’s cousin, got from Taylor Pagliarini with her mother Kauri Sartini sitting by her side.
For the Pappas family –Rachel, Brenden and Alex – it was a time to enjoy the many different bounce houses along with dozens of smiling children and adults who all took time to reflect on just how fortunate they were for not having to go through the grueling and on-going treatments that have prevented Isabella from going to school full time and being with her cherished classmates and living a cancer-free life.
Meanwhile, Jill Sartini, Isabella’s mighty mother who was overwhelmed by the special support people who were in some cases complete strangers showed for her daughter.
“I never expected anything like this,” Jill Sartini offered. “It was just supposed to be a little fundraiser in Vinny’s parking lot. I really can’t believe this whole thing; it’s just so incredible!”
For Isabella, who enjoyed having her face painted and visiting each and every bounce house as well as other child-oriented games with Biscuit by her side – Monday was special.
As she munched on an apple in one hand and held Biscuit’s leash in the other, Isabella smiled when several people asked how she was feeling.
“Awesome,” the pretty 12-year-old said with a smile. “Today is a good day … I’m hoping to go back to school next week.”
For Isabella Sartini, 12, is a cancer survivor extraordinaire. She’s endured pain, a number of sicknesses and in short, her young life has been an extremely difficult and traumatic treatment process.
However, Isabella remains brave. She stays as spirited as possible under the circumstances and with help from God – and Biscuit that came by way of Kristen Noel who owns and operates A Modern Dog – the sun, people like Vinny Pezzullo Sr. and Jr. seems to be shining a little brighter than it was years ago.
The same way if was Monday, even though gray skies covered Johnston War Memorial Park, where people help raise $7,000 to send a little girl – and her life-line – so she could realize her life dream of visiting Disney World in Florida.
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