Sports

Golfers Urged to Tee Up to Help Toddler in Need of Kidney Transplant

A fundraising golf tournament for Evan Ranieri will take place Oct. 14 at Bloomingdale Golfers Club.

Family and friends of 16-month-old Evan Ranieri are inviting golfers to participate in a fundraising tournament Oct. 14 to benefit the little Riverview boy in need of a kidney transplant.

The son of Paul and Melissa Ranieri of Riverview, Evan was born with hypoplasia of the kidneys, meaning his kidneys are underdeveloped and operate at 30 percent of normal kidneys. As a result, the little boy will require a life-saving kidney transplant during the coming year.

Until he has a transplant, he is being kept alive with the help of a feeding tube inserted into his stomach.

Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Although the Ranieris have private health insurance, it won't cover the entire cost of the $500,000 kidney transplant.

They are now registered with the national Children's Organ Transplant Association, an organization providing fundraising assistance to families facing a life-saving transplant.

Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Evan has his own page on the COTA website that includes a button to make online donations, 100 percent of which goes to Evan's medical needs.

Friends are hoping to offset the costs of the surgery with the fundraising golf tournament Oct. 14 at the Bloomingdale Golfers Club, 4113 Great Golfers Place, Valrico, starting with an 8:15 a.m. shotgun scramble. Registration begins at 7 a.m.

With a sponsorship from Bright House Networks and USAmeriBank, and thousands of dollars worth of prizes and raffle items, organizers would like to attract at least 100 golfers. The cost is $80 per player and includes a continental breakfast, lunch sponsored by Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, prizes, raffles, contests and a live auction. To register, visit the tournament's website or contact EvansOrganizers@yahoo.com or call 727-460-4734.

To find out more about Evan, read Friends Raise Funds for Riverview Boy in Need of Kidney Transplant.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here