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Concert Aims To Open Hearts

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: February 11, 2009

Juan Fontanez is hoping his upcoming rock concert will bring the Land O' Lakes community together to achieve a common goal - fighting cancer.

The Listen to your heart...Concert for a Cure 2009 takes place Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Land O' Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd. Through the event, Fontanez hopes to raise $10,000 for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. That event is set for April 24 at Land O' Lakes High School.

During the concert, a number of other activities also will take place. Festivities will include a taste of the town, live music, a silent auction, bouncy houses and a party with Ronald McDonald from noon to 1 p.m.

Rock bands like Woody and the Woodtones, Rec Room Hotties, John Gold, Sonic Wave, Kashmir, Falling Awake and more will rock the stage at the event while restaurants like Silver Ring, ABC Pizza, Golden Inn, China Star, Amalfi's Pizza, Domino's Pizza and Big Apple Bagels will offer tasty treats.

"It should be a great day with a lot of great live music," Fontanez said. "We will have mostly rock bands and some country playing. Most of the bands are from Tampa but one is coming from as far as Orlando. I am hoping we will be able to bring everyone together through good food and great music in order to raise some money for cancer research and awareness."

All proceeds raised from the event will go to the Land O' Lakes Sun Rays American Cancer Society Relay for Life team.

Fontanez said he has been participating in Relay For Life events in the area for six years with his mother Lilly Fontanez. He said he was first inspired at the age of 18 when he heard about Taylor Johnson, a little girl who lived in East Lake Padgett Estates who was diagnosed with neroblastoma cancer.

"We did a benefit for her which raised over $12,000 for her family," Fontanez said. "She died shortly after, but we were inspired and we have had a team for the local relay ever since."

Lilly Fontanez said through her fundraising over the last six years, she has met many people in Land O' Lakes affected by cancer.

"We have had a lot of support from the community," Lilly said. "In these hard times, it has been amazing to see the response. It is the best feeling to know we live in a community that can come together to support each other. That is the kind of people we have in Land O' Lakes, people with heart."

Even though Lilly and Juan participate every year, this year things are a little different since George Calderon, Lilly's brother, was diagnosed with lymphoma non-Hodgkins and has only recently finished his last chemo treatment. She said he is now doing pretty well, but this concert will be for him.

The relay team will accept donations for the silent auction until the day of the concert. For more information, call Juan at (813) 531-0778 or e-mail him at Tonioart@yahoo.com. Tickets are $10 at the door and will include five tickets for the taste of the town.

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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