Participating athletes from the Victory Sports league enjoyed an evening at St. Joseph Marello Hall, Pittston, for the annual Valentine’s party.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Pittston Township Patrolman Ruddy Navarro showed off his dance moves with Victory Sports athlete Sara Femea at the Victory Sports Valentine’s dance.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
PITTSTON – Victory Sports held an annual Valentine’s dance at St. Joseph Marello Hall where a new sporting event was announced along with a new Valentine King and Queen.
Fred DeSanto, Victory Sports president, announced a new sports program for mentally and physically challenged adults slated for this summer.
In addition to the successful basketball and softball programs, Victory Sports will be adding cycling to the list of activities.
“I saw something on TV and thought we could get a cycling program for the athletes this summer,” DeSanto said. “I also know that police departments acquire abandoned bicycles over time so I reached out to (Pittston Township Police Chief) Lena Angelella, she’s been a friend for over 2 -years, and maybe Pittston Township could help. She ended up reaching out to surrounding area police departments and they are going to get bikes for us.”
So far, DeSanto said between 15 and 20 Victory Sports athletes are interested and signed up for the summer cycling program. He said he polled the athletes during the Valentine’s dance where he picked up at least 15 future riders and many of the athletes were not in attendance at the dance.
He’s planning on asking the remainder of the participants to see if they would be interested in cycling as well.
Chief Angelella said, “Fred sent me an email explaining what programs (Victory Sports) offers the athletes, saying he wanted to introduce a new sport for the participants. He asked me if the police department had any unclaimed bikes. We don’t have any so I reached out to other local police departments and many of them were too glad to turn over unclaimed bikes.”
Angelella said she was planning to pick up the first collection of bikes while making sure they are ride-worthy and safe for the athletes of Victory Sports.
“When I get the bikes, I’ll have Fred come and see them to see if they could be used,” Angelella added. “We want to make sure they are roadworthy and safe. We are going to make a nice and safe road course for the cyclists so they can get familiar with the bikes. My police force, along with myself, is very excited for this program.”
DeSanto said if anyone has a mountain type bike they would like to donate, the organization would be happy to accept it for the participants.
“We are planning to ride the trail along the Susquehanna River starting near The Banks Waterfront,” DeSanto said. “We also would like to have enough bicycles for parents to join along in a ride.”
DeSanto said he’s looking for sponsors for they cycling program to help defray the costs.
If anyone is interested in donating a bicycle, call DeSanto at 570-466-9675 or Chief Angelella at the police station at 570-655-6350.
Interested potential sponsors may also reach out to DeSanto.
