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Rough Riders bring smiles to children

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By LENORA LAKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 1, 2009

TAMPA - About 15 members of the Rough Riders were loaded with gifts recently when they entered the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Tampa.

They brought teddy bears, beads and all the fixings for an ice cream social to about 20 patients, their siblings and their parents.

Rough Rider member Spencer Sommer said, jokingly: "We get them all sugared up with ice cream, cookies and punch. They can't sleep ... but it's only two times a year."

The krewe, based on President Theodore Roosevelt's group of Rough Riders, delivers the stuffed bears to agencies and charities in the Tampa Bay area, said Marty Mantel, co-chair of the teddy bear service project.

"Then we do a Teddy Bear Run almost every day during December. And on Christmas Eve, it's all day and night," Mantel said.

"If we can put a smile on a child's face, then we have done our jobs," Mantel said.

Most patients got brown or tan bears but Alexis Marie Ashby, 9, of Miami, wanted one that had flowers or a heart.

The Rough Riders found a black bear with a red heart sweater, and Alexis quickly named it Valentine.

Concert to help Everyday Blessings

A Fourth of July concert is planned for 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lowry Park Band Shell, 1101 W. Sligh Ave.

The event will feature Eric Darius, Shawn Brown, Nate Najar, the Mike McArthur Band and Al Chisholm & the on Que Players.

While it is free, donations will be accepted for the St. Francis Foundation, which is seeking to build additional housing at Everyday Blessings. The Thonotosassa facility is a home for abandoned and abused children.

Organizer Eddie Adams said, "We want people to come out, have a good time and hear the message. Then they can donate if they like."

Food, drink and coolers are not allowed at the concert, Adams said.

Send news of community interest to Lenora Lake at Tampa Tribune, P.O. Box 191, Tampa FL 33601 or e-mail her at llake@ tampatrib.com or call her at (813) 259-7600.

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