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The Villages
Friday, March 29, 2024

Loopers raise nearly $6,000 to help with daughter’s treatment

Golf cart winner Christine Bartow with Angelo and Renee Delmonte.
Golf cart winner Christine Bartow with Angelo and Renee Delmonte.

Renee Delmonte traveled nearly 5,000 miles from Germany to The Village of St. James over the weekend. She was back on Hopespring Loop on Monday evening comforted by the warmth and love of home.

“This means so much to me and my family,” she said in an emotional speech before about 100 neighbors, who call themselves “the Loopers.” They gathered on the street for a special golf cart raffle to raise money for Sheri Delmonte Maloney, Renee’s daughter who has Stage 4 cancer.
Nearly $3,600 was raised through the sale of raffle tickets and another $2,300 came from the sale of t-shirts and other donations.  The golf cart was won by Christine Bartow of the Village of Amelia.

Renee and her daughter had spent the past month in Brannenburg, Germany where Sheri received alternative treatment for cancer. Sheri, 36, is a single mother of four young children and lives in Webster, near Rochester, N.Y.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago.

Sheri Delmonte Maloney with her children.
Sheri Delmonte Maloney with her children.

“This trip to Germany would not have been possible without you,” Renee told the crowd, as tears ran down her face, and her husband, Angelo Delmonte, held her with his arm around her back. “This trip was Sheri’s last chance and you helped make it happen.”
“This is more than we ever expected,” Angelo said. “We’re so thankful.”
Despite the deep emotions, this was a joyous evening of celebration by a neighborhood united for a family’s battle against cancer. The yellow sky dimmed at sunset on a steamy October evening. Golf carts and cars were jammed on the street. People were lined up against the curbs and in driveways. Sandy and Norm Schaal, donated their garage for the raffle and had a table lined with everything from popcorn to cake to cookies.
“This neighborhood will come together for any cause that helps our people,” Sandy Schaal said. “You can’t explain why this neighborhood is so close; it just happened. But it happened for a reason. We want Angelo, Renee and Sheri to know we will always be here for them.”
There was something beyond the usual neighbor helping neighbor atmosphere at this event. The family’s fight against cancer seemed personal for everyone there.

Renee Delmonte uses a bullhorn to address the crowd.
Renee Delmonte uses a bullhorn to address the crowd.

“It’s almost spiritual,” said Tony D’Aquisto who lives on the Loop. “It’s almost like we were all meant to live here and be here for each other,” added his wife, Jan. “And it’s not just the Loopers.”
Vinnie Damato doesn’t live on the Loop but sold t-shirts and gathered other donations for the cause. “This is the way people are in The Villages,” he said.
Christine Bartow shared that view while sitting in her new golf cart. “This isn’t about me, it’s about helping Renee and Angelo and their daughter,” she said. “I never thought I would win, I just wanted to help them. Still, it’s nice to have a golf cart.”
For this night, the Delmonte family had reason to smile and share the joy of living on the Loop. Renee talked about “my girls” – Sandy Schaal, Terri Yawger, Lois Ferriolo, Lynn Bennett and Debbie Tanzman – neighbors who helped take care of her husband and family when she was away.
“They even sent food up to our daughter’s home in New York,” Renee said. “We came here four years ago and found a place where we belong with people we love. It’s so good to be home.”

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