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10-16-2008, 05:38 AM
Rob Lovering @ 813-245-5329 or Mike Waldman @ 813-245-6258

On Saturday, November 08, 2008 members of the Tampa Police Department, and The Hillsbourgh Co. Sheriffs Office along with friends are holding a motorcycle charity ride to raise money for the 10-month-old granddaughter (Bella) of Captain Cherie Adkins and Corporal Bryan Adkins. Bella is in a battle with a rare form of cancer, Acute Myleogenous Leukemia. Beautiful Bella is the daughter of Chris & Patti Villanti and she has been given a 40 percent chance of survival. She is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatments, with some of the treatments lasting up to ten hours in duration at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. Her family is in need of financial assistance, as her mother had to stop working to be with Bella during her medical care. All monies raised during this event will go towards Bella’s medical expenses and the family’s household bills.

The ride for Bella will take place in Pasco County and will travel 99 miles through country roads with five stops We are inviting every two wheel (Motorcycle) rider along with all our four wheel (Cars) drivers to join us for this event. The starting location is “Rapscallions” restaurant at 4422 Land-O-Lakes Blvd (US 41 in Pasco County just north of SR 54) which is offering Lunch Specials and is located on a beautiful lake. We will do registrations for the motorcycle riders between 1000 & 1100. The cost for riders is $20.00 per bike, which includes a card hand & $15.00 for passengers, which includes a card hand also. The 3 best hands in the event will win cash prizes. We hope to have the first bikes leave the restaurant just after 1100 and the last rider must be at the final location by 1600 which is at 27311 SR54 “Beef ‘O’ Brady’s” (I-75 and SR 54, behind “Dairy Queen”). The final destination will have a DJ playing music, 49-cent chicken wings, a 50/50, raffle prizes, a silent auction and more.

We encourage our four-wheel friends and TPD family to join us at our second stop “Boyett Groves”, which is a unique hidden roadside ZOO and more. The cost to tour the Zoo is only $3.95 for adults and $2.95 for children with $1.00 from each ticket sold that day going to Bella. Boyett Groves is tucked down in a corner of Hernando County between Brooksville (SR 50) and I-75, (Exit #293, just off I-75, it is 3 exits north of SR 54). Boyett’s is billed as a Citrus Attraction, but citrus is only part of the appeal of this place that's a true old-Florida style gift shop with a whole lot more. You want to find a place that is kid-friendly where the youngsters can run off some energy while you cool off with a cone of ice cream (2 for 1 special, 24 flavors to choose from). Out back, paved paths wander by homes of monkeys, turtles, snakes, alligators, pigs, deer and raccoons. There are plenty of non-native species around, too, like a 3,000-pound great white shark (which just happens to be stuffed) and African tortoise (which just happen to be real). Huge fish tanks (13,000 gallons) hold all kinds of creatures of the sea. Colorful parrots squawk and preen. The paths are shaded by huge elephant ears, and fruit trees like loquat, guava, banana, orange and grapefruit are all along the paths that go to different parts of a big "village" complete with rustic signs that tell of "events" in the village. Just opened is a huge dinosaur cave where replicas of the world's favorite extinct species await children's visits.

After spending sometime at the Zoo we hope that all our four-wheel friends come to the final riders location at “Beef ‘O’ Brady’s” and take part in the 50/50, the raffles and a silent auction. Most importantly we would like for everyone to come join in showing our love, encouragement and wishes for Bella and her family who are all going through an emotional draining medical ride. Lets give them a day to take their minds off the horrible reality of Cancer, by showing them the supporting strength of their TPD family and friends.

If you can not make the event and would like to contribute to Bella you may make Checks out to the “Children’s Cancer Center” in Bella’s name or give cash to your district representative or Officer Kristina Duran. To see more of Bella and her story go to Tampabays10.com and search Bella. Contact Persons are, Lt. Rob Lovering at 245-5329 or Deputy Mike Waldman at 813-245-6258