FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mahopac Man Honors Wife by Hosting Breast Cancer Benefit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MaryEllen Odell
Putnam County Executive
(845) 808-1001
August 08, 2013
Mahopac Man Honors Wife by Hosting Breast Cancer Benefit
A Mahopac resident and several other members of the Westchester Chapter of Iron Order Motorcycle Club will host the first annual Breast Cancer Benefit and Motorcycle Run on Saturday, August 24 starting at noon at the Claddagh Bar & Grill, 925 Route 6 in Mahopac, NY.
Among those to be honored is Manny Leggio’s wife, Daniella, who lost her battle against breast cancer last February.
“We all know someone who has been affected by this terrible disease. For me, it was my wife. But it might be someone else’s mother, aunt or sister,” said Leggio. “Holding an event like this, it’s the only thing we, the survivors, can do.”
Iron Order’s President Michael Cavaluzzi has also been affected by the disease. He lost his wife, sister and mother to breast cancer.
“The Westchester Chapter is honoring close family members of our organization that have been victims of this disease and we are joining in the battle to fight against breast cancer,” he said.
Odell is no stranger to fundraising motorcycle rides and has participated in several this summer.
“This is just another example of the generosity and support that the ‘bike’ community offers when they see someone in need,” Odell said. “I was lucky enough to participate in the ride for the Blythesdale Children’s Hospital as well as the Purple Heart ride, both benefitting terrific causes.”
A relatively new member of the Iron Order club, Leggio said he had been a longtime motorcycle enthusiast and was first introduced to the club by a friend a few years ago.
“I hung out with the club a couple of times,” he said. “They were just a great bunch of guys. This was like Boy Scouts for men.”
When Leggio learned the Iron Order wanted to open a Westchester County branch, he “just went with it.”
Leggio now serves as the chapter’s vice-president and feels quite at home among the membership, many of whom are, as Leggio is, in law enforcement. Leggio works as a narcotics detective in the New York Police Department. But the club, he said, has plenty of non-law enforcement members as well.
“We are a law enforcement support group but we have military and retired and just plain, old regular Joe’s,” he said.
The Iron Order spends a great deal of its time fundraising for various projects, something Leggio learned as he became more familiar with the group.
“I would be willing to bet that motorcycle clubs raise more funds for various causes than are donated by major corporations,” he said.
Saturday’s fundraiser will consist of a 30-mile motorcycle run up Rte 6 to Rte 301 and over to Rte 9A by the Bear Mountain Bridge. There they will turn around and retrace their ride back to the Claddagh where Two Fisted Law and The Hat City Ramblers are donating their musical talents for the entire event.
For the price of $20 per person or $30 per couple, attendees can enjoy free food and a cash bar. Vendors will be present selling such things as T-shirts and jewelry, while tattoo and piercing artists will be available to do their thing. And don’t forget the Coors Light Girls. They’ll be there, too.
“But 100 percent of the funds raised will go to fight breast cancer,” Leggio said.
