Fundraising event scheduled for Valentine’s Day
Published in the February 4-17, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo courtesy the Daprile family
Gavin Daprile takes a selfie in Ireland near Dingle Island.
Valentine’s Day this year will be an extra special occasion for Morgan Hill resident Gavin Daprile and his friends and family members. On that day at Troy’s Bocce Ball Room inside the Morgan Hill Bowl bowling alley, he’ll celebrate life and health with an “All You Need is a Party” event open to the public to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
A survivor of cancer, Daprile believes that getting people together to celebrate life can also bring attention to the needs of people with cancer. The music band Kid Dynamite will be performing and there will be appetizers, delicious desserts and a no-host bar as well as raffle prizes and door prizes such as gift cards from restaurants and business Mama Mia’s Italian Cuisine, The Good Fork, Sinaloa Cafe, and BookSmart.
“We have been personally affected by cancer and have had friends and family who have succumbed to leukemia, multiple myeloma and breast cancer,” Daprile said. “Personally, I am a survivor of testicular cancer. My wife Stacey and I feel that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s work has helped not only people with blood cancers, but other cancers as well.”
All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Costs for the party including the band, appetizers and desserts will be paid directly by the Daprile family, he said.
Troy’s Bocce Ball has donated the facility for the event and helped to find the band, provided staffing and are providing advertising as well.
The All You Need is a Party fundraiser will be open to people 21 year and older. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.
Daprile, Stacey, and Daprile’s son, Dominick have also committed to raise more than $13,000 for LLS through Team-in-Training. They are signed up to run an Olympic triathlon, which entails a .9 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride and 10k run. Their goal is to raise more than $4,000 of their total commitment at the All You Need is a Party event.
“I feel strongly about fighting blood cancers,” he said. “To my surprise, I have had two co-workers who directly benefited from the services provided by LLS. Not only were some of their treatments discovered by research and grant moneys from LLS, but they also received patient services from the organization, which helped them cope with their diseases.”
Cancer, no matter the type, changes one’s perspective in life, Daprile found during his own personal battle with testicular cancer, a disease that generally affects younger males.
“After surgery and radiation, I was left unable to bear children,” he said. “At the time I felt broken and unsure of my life and how it would turn out. This ended up being a blessing in disguise, in that I was given the opportunity to adopt three of the most important persons in my life.”
Daprile advocates men to consider a regular checkup for testicular cancer, which is one of the most treatable forms of cancer if diagnosed early. The symptoms are often a painful or a swollen testicle, or a lump on a testicle.
“If you feel that you have a symptom, you should seek a medical exam immediately,” he said. “Most doctors will check for testicular cancer during a regular exam.”
Information on how to check yourself for cancer can be found on the following website: www.cancer.org/cancer/testicularcancer/more information/doihavetesticularcancer/do-i-have-testicular-cancer-self-exam.
