The race is on to help children with cancer
East Bruns. boy, 10, holding benefit event at Raceway Park
BY MARY ANNE ROSS
Correspondent

Rocky Cagno, 10, of East Brunswick, will hold the second annual "MX Kids Racing for Hope" event Saturday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Pension Road.

He may be just 10 years old, but Motocross racer Rocky Cagno is leading the pack when it comes to raising money for kids with cancer.

Last year, the student from Frost Elementary School, East Brunswick, conceived and coordinated an event called "MX Kids Racing for Hope," which raised $25,000 for the Institute for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders, New Brunswick.

This Saturday, he and his supporters are hoping to raise even more when they hold their second annual event, this time at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

"After the race last year, there were so many people interested in participating that we had to move the event to Raceway Park," said Rocky's father, Rocco. So far, the race has 70 entries, ranging in age from 4 to 15. There will be 15 races with categories broken down according to age and the motor size of the bike.

Raceway Park has offered to contribute a portion of the proceeds, and Kawasaki is co-sponsoring the event. There will be several items raffled off, including a bike, a remote control car, goggles, boots and other gear. Each of the 15 races is sponsored by a local business. The riders have sponsor sheets similar to those used in walking and running events.

"Last year the kids worked so hard to get sponsors that they really raised a lot of money. We thought we would offer them a kind of reward," Rocco said. Each will get a lottery ticket with the chance to win a CRF-50 donated by Freehold Honda or a KLX110 donated by Monmouth Cycle.

One of the highlights of the day will be the appearance of Motocross legend Jeff Emig, who won more racing titles in the 1990s than any other racer. In 2004 he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. On Saturday, he will be doing a demonstration ride, signing autographs and providing race commentary.

Rocky is looking forward to meeting Emig.

"I really want to get his autograph," he said.

Rocky's favorite thing about racing is "getting a lot of air," meaning the jumps and lifts that are part of the different courses. His parents, who take him to practice twice a week, have made sure that Rocky knows how to handle the bike safely.

"We go to Englishtown [Raceway Park] and a private club we belong to," Rocco said. "These bikes cannot be ridden out in the street, and they cannot be ridden out in the woods - that's against the law.

Rocky came up with the idea to use racing as a way to raise money for cancer after a fundraiser was held at his school two years ago for a classmate with cancer. His father, Rocco, and mother, Wendy, embraced the idea and turned it into a bit of a family affair.

Rocky's teachers, Vicky Albert and Barbara Carr, have also given him a lot of support. They distributed fliers and had the class design a T-shirt for Rocky.

"It's really had a snowball effect, and other kids are asking what they can do," Wendy Cagno said.

The Cancer Institute apparently appreciates Rocky's efforts, nominating him for the WMGQ Kids Who Make Magic awards.

Looking back, Wendy is not surprised that her son came up with the idea and has made such an impact.

"He's always coming up with ideas for things. The other day he asked me if he could design a pair of goggles and e-mail it to the manufacturer," she said.

Rocco operates a business, J.R. & Sons Remodeling, and Wendy also works outside the home. In addition to their daily workload, the fundraisers take a lot of time

"We started in December," she said. "It's very stressful and takes a lot of time, but it's worth it. The kids are learning a valuable lesson."

Krista, Rocky's 5-year-old sister, is an example of that.

"I'm happy we're helping kids who are sick," Krista said. "It's important."

After June 9, Wendy noted, all the stress will be over for the Cagnos, "but for families with sick kids the stress is never over."

Both parents feel their efforts have given them a deeper sense of gratitude.

"The Institute for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders is such a wonderful place," Wendy said. "They do all these extra things to support the kids and their families. But when I leave there I'm so grateful I was just there for a meeting or to make a donation."

Her husband agrees.

"People ask me, 'Doesn't this take a lot of time and isn't it stressful?' Well it does take a lot of time and it is stressful. But we volunteer for this and after it's over we can relax," Rocco said. "Parents who are struggling with a sick child it don't have that luxury."

The MX Kids Racing for Hope will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Raceway Park, Pension Road. Gates open at 7 a.m.

For more information call (732) 266-0306. For information about Rocky's racing, visit his Web site at www.rc531.com.