Sirens Host Fundraiser for Bloomingdale Resident Recovering From Stroke

Under normal circumstances, Bloomingdale resident Octavia Stoppa would have been riding with her fellow members of the Sirens of the Golden Saber krewe in Saturday's Gasparilla Pirate Fest parade.

But this year Stoppa could only watch the parade pass by from her hospital room at Tampa General Hospital.

Just before Christmas, the 55-year-old pole fitness instructor and owner of All About Beauty salon and spa at 102 Mason St., Brandon, suffered a massive stroke that has left her partially paralyzed.

"It was so sudden," said friend and fellow Siren Jill Smith. "She was in perfect health before this."

A member of the krewe for a number of years, Stoppa is well-known for her generosity and willingness to help others, said Smith.

"Octavia is a woman who always gives back to our community and now it's our turn to help her," said Smith.

The Sirens will host a fundraiser for Stoppa Friday, Feb. 1 at 9 p.m. at O'Brien's Irish Pub, 701 W. Lumsden Rd. in Brandon, to help pay for her mounting medical expenses.

The Sirens will sell Jello shots and host a raffle for a chance to win Lightning tickets, gift baskets and gift cards donated by local businesses. 

The all-female krewe was formed in 2000 and now has 50 members. It meets once a month at O'Brien's. In between, said Smith, the women participate in a number of charitable events focusing on women and children including Paint Your Heart Out Tampa, the O'Brien's Christmas gift collection for children in foster/emergency care, Tools for Schools, Miles for Moffitt and they sponsor several classrooms at Girls Prep Academy in Tampa.

In addition to participating in the Gasparilla Pirate Fest, the krewe takes part in the Brandon Fourth of July parade, the University of South Florida Homecoming Parade, the Gasparilla Children's Parade, the Knight Parade and the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

For more information or to donate items for the fundraiser for Octavia Stoppa, email Smith at sirenjill@gmail.com.