Community rallies around teacher in need
A fundraiser planned for this weekend will benefit a high school teacher in Cape Coral.
The Community Fundraiser for Stephanie Peace will take place on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Overtime Pizzeria and Sports Pub. Peace was diagnosed with ALK Stage 4 lung cancer on July 11.
Colleen Klima, who is organizing the event, explained that Peace is a teacher at Ida S. Baker High School, where her son is enrolled. Joey, 17, came home one day and wanted to do something to help. Klima noted that her son was diagnosed last year with a brain lesion that has to be MRI’d routinely.
“He said, ‘I have to do something big to help her,'” she said.
“I think he’s extra sensitive and compassionate that way,” Klima added.
Peace has undergone chemotherapy, and she is currently testing out a new drug.
“She had some brain lesions that were treated with chemo,” she said.
The proceeds from the fundraiser will help Peace’s family offset some of her medical costs. Married with three children – ages 12, 6 and 5 – her husband, John Peace, is also a teacher at Ida Baker.
On Saturday, the event will feature live entertainment, silent auction and raffles.
Klima said local youth will perform from 2 to 3 p.m., followed by the Cape band Stolen Fruit.
“It’s a five-piece band,” she said. “It’s , and ’80s – it’s more modern music.”
The silent auction will feature an array of items, including a $119 signed ball from JP Sports, four tickets and a promo pack from the Tampa Bay Rays, a one-night stay at the Dolphin Key Resort with dinner and a round of golf at the Palmetto Pine Country Club, along with car washes and massages.
“We have a Minnesota Twins signed baseball bat, which is the number one player – also a signed ball,” Klima said. “We have a Perry Ellis men’s fragrance basket, probably worth close to $700.”
There are also several items up for grabs in the raffles, including restaurant gift certificates, fishing charters and themed gift baskets, as well as Sun Splash Family Waterpark and Sky Zone tickets.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” she said. “And it’s all local.”
Overtime plans on donating a portion of its food and drinks sales for the day.
“Overtime is donating a percentage back to Stephanie,” Klima said.
In addition, “Stephanie Strong” T-shirts will be available for sale, with all of the proceeds going to Peace. She explained that the Cape Day Drinkers donated the funds to create the event T-shirts.
Those unable to attend can still help by donating to a GoFundMe account that has been created for Peace. The “Stephanie Marks Peace medical fund” is at: www.gofundme.com/27c2yd87.
For more information, call Klima at 407-754-6413.
People can also visit the Facebook event “Community Fundraiser for Stephanie Peace” Overtime Pizzeria and Sports Pub is at 1708 Cape Coral Parkway W., Suite 1.