Hot! HOT!!! Lani Kai’s annual blood and bone marrow drive heats up with entertainment all day Saturday

For the fifth year in a row, the Lani Kai Island Resort will be hosting the Kenny Conidaris Blood and Bone Marrow Drive at the 1400 Estero Blvd. location, Saturday, July 16, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seeking a marrow match to now 18-year-old Kenny, as well as gathering blood for our local blood banks, and featuring live music throughout the day, with plenty of prizes, giveaways, food and something extra special – a mini show put on by our very own visiting Cincinnati Firemen!

Invited by the Conidaris family, owners of the Lani Kai, during their most recent Spring Break visit, the well-known Cincinnati Firemen have been visiting Fort Myers Beach for more than 20 years, providing our locals and visitors with free and very entertaining hour-long variety shows virtually every day during their stay.

Their song-and-dance routines have featured anything from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the music of “Grease” to the Black Eyed Peas, the Village People (see photo pictured with this article) and so many more.

Thousands have flocked the island to see the firemen’s show, and for the last two years, the group has teamed up with the Lani Kai Resort, to raise funds for local charities in need.

Last year alone, the group raised a whopping $10,216 for Southwest Florida’s Pete Renner Foundation.

“We’re very excited to come down during another time of year to help out with yet another great local charity,” said Angelo Scarlato, Cincinnati fireman and one of the founders of the traveling group. “During Kenny’s fund-raiser, we’ll be performing a mini show, featuring some skits we’ve done in the past.”

Six or seven Cincy firemen will make the trip down for the benefit show, staying on the beach through the weekend.

Also performing during the benefit will be A200, the Tropical Breeze Reggae Band and PUSH.

All those who donate will receive a free T-shirt, raffle tickets for a chance to win all types of great prizes – including a grand prize of a golf cart – along with entrance to the special benefit buffet.

Last year, organizers said, thanks to the drive, a bone marrow match was found for a local 30-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with leukemia. All it takes is a cotton swab inside the mouth to see if you’re a match.

Feel free to RSVP on the drive’s Facebook event page by visiting Facebook.com and searching for “Kenny Conidaris Bone Marrow Blood Drive.”

You can also become a fan of the Cincinnati Firemen by searching for “Greater Cincinnati Firefighters Show Group at Lani Kai Fort Myers Beach” on Facebook.

For more information on the upcoming blood and bone marrow drive, call the Lani Kai at 463-3111.