Marlborough – The Marlborough Police Department and a group of Brazilian pastors and priests from Marlborough churches met on the soccer field June 7 to raise money for David Badaro, an 11-year-old fighting Hodgkin's lymphoma.
David is entering his third month of chemotherapy and will begin radiation therapy toward the end of the summer. The event will help David's family with their significant medical bills and other expenses.
In front of a crowd of about 140, the two sides battled it out at ForeKicks in Marlborough, who generously donated the field. Members of the Marlborough Police Department, including Chief Mark Leonard, lieutenants, sergeants, and patrol officers, faced off against pastors and priests from eight different local churches: Pastor Halessandro Andrade from Assembleia de Deus Palavra de Fe; Pastor Danilo Gomes from?Igreja Batista de Marlborough; Father Adriano Albino de Castro from Immaculate Conception Church; Pastor Michel Santos from The Hope Church; Pastor Roberto Paiva and Gilmar Boaventura from Igreja Ministerio Internacional Rios de Aqua Viva; Pastor Jose Antonio Pereira from Bethel Presbyterian Church; Pastor Eduardo Sampaio from Assembleia de Deus Philadelphia Ministry; and Pastor Mauricio Holanda from Igreja de Cristo.
Officer Rafael Faria was one of the officers who played in the match.
“It was a fantastic game, especially since David played,” he said. “He is really good – better than any of the officers!”
In fairness, David played half of the game with the officers and half with the “Brazilians.” He scored four goals.
“His dream is to become a professional soccer player,” Faria said.
According to Faria, the fundraiser was a big success. The game raised about $3,300 in addition to another $2,500 online. After hearing about David, Cops for Kids with Cancer donated another $5,000.
Although the Brazilian team won – “of course,” said Faria – both sides felt like winners after the game.
“It was for a great cause,” Faria said, adding that hopefully after treatment, David will be cancer-free.
Donations are still being accepted online at http://www.gofundme.com/Davids-Soccer-Game?forcedesktop=1.
