Local pizza company holds fundraiser to benefit 16-year-old with leukemia

MATTHEWS, N.C. — A local pizza company in Matthews is hosting a grand opening on Thursday night to benefit a 16-year-old battling a rare form of cancer.

Shelby Purvis was diagnosed with leukemia just shortly after her 16th birthday.

Brothers, Jim and Steve DaPolitio, opened Bisonte Pizza Co. shortly after moving from Buffalo, N.Y , to Matthews, N.C.

Jim and Steve met Purvis while attending and volunteering for a local church.

"We will have chicken wings cannolis, and all proceeds will benefit Shelby. She is battling through this. She's a good fighter -- we are pretty excited about it," said Steve DaPolitio.

To see the Bisonte Pizza Co. menu, click here.

Steve DaPolitio said when he and his brother Jim originally scheduled to open Bisonte that they believed that the business should benefit the community.

"One of the things Jim and I are really focused on is that the business should benefit the community. We are here to support the community, and we are big on family," said Steve DaPolitio. "So we became aware of a family that volunteers at the same church that I do, and this very special person, Shelby Purvis was diagnosed with Leukemia just a week after her 16th birthday in April of this year so there is a tremendous burden on her parents. We just saw it as a great opportunity."

So now, that is exactly what Steve and Jim DaPolitio are going to do for their grand opening -- they are going to help out the community by starting with a teenage girl who touched their hearts.

"Shelby attends a special arts program at Mooresville High School. Her family moved up there to help her achieve that goal," said Jim.

To visit the Bisonte Pizza Co. Facebook page, click here.

Jim and Steve DaPolitio aren't the only ones helping the cause -- two different mayors are involved too.

The grand opening celebration will take place on Thursday night from 4 to 8 p.m. and will feature the mayors of Indian Trail and Monroe battling in a pizza-making contest.

The contest will feature the mayors tossing and baking their very own pizza. Those attending the event will get to weigh-in on the decision of which pizza is better.

The grand opening is $7 pre-sale and $10 dollars at the door. The cost will cover all you can eat and drink including pizza, wings and even cannolis.

WSOC