BlackWater concert to benefit Stokes memorial fund
A free concert featuring entertainment by BlackWater, a rocking’ country band with deep local roots, will be held Saturday, Nov. 9, from 4-8 p.m., at Perico’s in Cape Coral to benefit the Bradley David Stokes Jr. Memorial Fund.
The scholarship was established by Rebecca Stokes, Bradley’s mother, after her son died in a motorcycle accident May 18, 2012. Stokes established the fund because she “wanted her son’s passion of becoming a firefighter to live on through others who share the same desire.”
“Bradley really loved firefighting and he wanted to be a firefighter since he was about 3 years old,” Stokes said. “When he was 14, he began going to the fire department and participated in the Fire Explorer program where he would do training and field trips. After graduating from Edison State College, it was around the time when firefighters were being laid off, he joined the Air Force where they had a program to become a firefighter. It took him about a year to get into the Air Force and he was home on leave in May 2012 when the accident occurred.”
The first recipient of the scholarship, Brian Lally of Cape Coral, was named just two months after the accident in 2012. Ian Lay of Cape Coral became the second recipient on Bradley’s birthday July 24, 2013.
There will be a 50/50 raffle and event/merchandise raffles for the benefit of the firefighter/EMT educational scholarship offered by the Bradley David Stokes Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. There will be food and drinks for sale by Perico’s the sponsoring restaurant and bar.
Friends and family and all others are welcome to stop by and enjoy while supporting a great cause and remembering Bradley Stokes.
Perico’s is located at 2401 Hancock Bridge Parkway, Cape Coral.
Donations can be made directly to: Bradley David Stokes, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, c/o Stonegate Bank, 5551 Sunset Lane St. James City, FL 33956.
Fire Chief David Bradley and Deputy Chief Joe Marzella choose the individual each year that receives the scholarship.