DELTONA -- One was a well-known school crossing guard supervisor for the Volusia County Sheriff's Office who became the victim of a murder-suicide that orphaned her four children. The other was a popular Deltona Fire Department captain who lost his battle with advanced stage cancer, leaving his widow to care for the young grandchild that the couple was raising.
Tragically, death rocked both agencies just four days apart back in July, and now both families are coping with unspeakable grief and loads of fiscal burdens. On Saturday, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and Deltona Fire Department will team up for a charity fundraiser to help the families of Julyann Rivera and Capt. Pete Tucker.
And the public is invited to join in the fun when members of the two agencies meet on the softball diamond in Deltona for a benefit game to honor the memories of Rivera and Tucker and assist with their families' financial needs.
The activities will get under way at 11 a.m. at Dupont Lakes Park, 2711 Elkcam Blvd. Admission is free to Saturday's game, dubbed The Bravest vs. The Finest. In addition to the softball contest, there will be a host of family-friendly events, including a home run derby, children's games, a bounce house, a clown, face-painting, fingerprinting of children for parents' records, public safety displays and demonstrations and a visit from Santa. Hot dogs, drinks, baked goods and souvenir t-shirts also will be on sale.
All of the money raised from the event will be given to the Rivera and Tucker families. Representatives of both families are scheduled to be in attendance on Saturday.