Banana Ball followers packed a Hartford Dunkin’ Saturday morning as gamers from the Party Animals and Indianapolis Clowns kicked off the ultimate day of their Connecticut cease with a public meet-and-greet.
From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., gamers served clients behind the counter, signed autographs, posed for photographs and danced with followers. Chompers, the Hartford Yard Goats mascot, and Peanuts, the Indianapolis Clowns mascot, additionally joined the celebration, serving to flip an strange Dunkin’ run right into a Banana Ball expertise.
For one fan, nonetheless, the morning turned much more memorable.
“I did not expect this at all,” 14-year-old Daniela Ciriello stated after gamers surprised her and her household with 4 tickets to Saturday night time’s Party Animals and Indianapolis Clowns recreation.
The shock was coordinated by Connecticut Children’s, the place Ciriello is a affected person.
Ciriello lives with beta thalassemia, a rare genetic blood disorder that has required blood transfusions each three weeks since she was 14 months previous. She has additionally turned her expertise into advocacy via Daniela’s Dream for a Cure, a nonprofit devoted to elevating consciousness of beta thalassemia and supporting efforts to discover a remedy.
“I have a rare blood disorder called beta thalessemia where every three weeks, I need to get a blood transfusion because, you know, because my body doesn’t produce enough white blood cells,” Ciriello stated. “So I get blood transfusions with all the donors who donate blood. The blood with the blood transfusions. And then I have to do it again every three weeks.”
She stated alternatives like Saturday’s assist her put these remedies apart, even when just for a day.
“It’s really great because I like being like, I usually can’t be a kid all the time with all I have to go through,” Ciriello stated. “So having like a nice fun day, meeting the players on your way to the game is really fun. It lets me be free and have a great day.”
Party Animals participant Bryson Bloomer stated moments like which are what make group appearances particular.
“Fulfilling, you know?” Bloomer stated. “It’s not every night we get to go out there and get to have fun for ourselves. But anytime we can spread that joy, that love for our fans, it’s beautiful.”
Saturday’s meet-and-greet was a part of a weekend that introduced Banana Ball followers from throughout the area to Hartford. While a whole lot of followers got here to satisfy gamers, accumulate autographs and rejoice the game’s distinctive model of leisure, the occasion additionally gave one Connecticut teenager a day she’ll always remember.
