CLERMONT, Fla. – When 13-year old East Ridge Middle School student Devonte Davis was diagnosed with cancer in late April, dribbling rubber and hitting nothing but net became something of an obsolete.
Davis and his family have been struggling against a tough challenge in battling cancer, but with the support from his friends, family and community, Davis can’t wait to get back to shooting hoops and playing with his friends.
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“He had a 2-inch tumor removed from his right wrist,” a GoFundMe account started by family friend Brandi Brady-Ferrone said. “The tumor was sent to the lab to test for cancer. On April 26, Devonte and his family were sent to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. They were told that Devonte has rhabdomyosarcoma and will need ongoing treatments.”
For Brady-Ferrone, who has known the family for more than 20 years according to a story on DailyCommercial.com, starting a GoFundMe wasn’t enough to help the family that despite having insurance, was still struggling with the battle.
Brady-Ferrone then talked to her husband to confront the issue together. Frank Ferrone came up with the idea to get the Clermont police and fire departments to participate in a charity basketball game.
The fundraiser starring the two service groups started with ease because of how well-known the two organizations can be in terms of their friendliness and good-natured competitiveness.
So on May 23 at 6 p.m. at the East Ridge Middle School gym, the two groups will verse each other on the court in an effort to raise money for Davis and his family in what the community is calling “Battle of the Shields.”
All money raised from the event at 13201 Excalibur Road in Clermont will go to Davis’s battle against cancer. From the $5 entry fee for people ages five and up, to concessions and the sale of “#prayfordevonte” wristbands provided by Davis’s grandmother, police just hopes the family’s burden can be lessened.
“When we were asked to help, we said absolutely yes. We were honored,” Clermont police Chief Charles Broadway said in the DailyCommercial.com story. “As a police department, we like to be intricately involved in the community and in this case, we want to do our part in helping out Devonte and his family.”
Davis’ treatment will last throughout the next 10 months, and the GoFundMe has raised more than $2,575 to date out of the $50,000 goal.
To donate to Davis' battle, you can visit https://www.gofundme.com/DevonteWillDefeatCancer.