Feel-Good Music at Madison Restaurant Benefits Cancer Society

A fundraiser for the American Cancer Society on Thursday evening in downtown Madison will feature live music and deals on food and drinks.

Rocco's 'Kids of All Ages' QuestCares fundraiser is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Rocco's Tuscany Grill, 30 Cook Plaza, with music by a band that counts a Madison Downtown Development Commissioner as one of its members.

Attendees at Thursday's fundraiser who donate $10 for a "Making Strides Against Cancer" wristband will receive discounted food and drinks.

Employees of Quest Diagnostics, which has its corporate headquartered in the borough, are aiming to raise $30,000 for the American Cancer Society this year. They teamed up with restaurant owners Rocco and Gino Iossa and Madison Downtown Development Commissioner Mark Fabyanski, a member of Group Therapy Band, to organize Thursday's event.

The fundraiser is open to the public. Attendees who make a donation can receive a 15 percent discount on Rocco's entire food menu, $1 sodas with free refills, $2 draft beer and $5 wine.

Group Therapy Band, which plays "feel-good, sing-along Rock and Soul tunes," has asked Quest Diagnostics employee musicians to join them on stage for a few numbers. The band also will invite children—and "Kids of All Ages"—to sing, dance or play a tambourine with them, according to an announcement for the event.

Group Therapy Band entertained a crowd of 200 at the QuestCares Charity Softball community event at Dodge Field this summer, which featured Quest CEO Steve Rusckowski's team facing Mayor Bob Conley's town team. The teams continued their sparring at an after-event hosted by Rocco's.

"We're proud that the DDC and Quest Diagnostics asked Rocco's to join them in the fight against cancer, and we're looking forward to seeing employee families and community families come together at Rocco's to again make a difference in our community," Gino Iossa said in a news release.

Fabyanski said he hopes everyone stops by on Thursday to support a good cause and have a good time.

"We know the kids will be asking for Bruno Mars and Fun in addition to our Rock and Soul classics, so we're stepping up our game for Thursday night," he said. "We hope everyone will come out—with or without kids, for a quick drink, an appetizer or for dinner—and have a good time supporting a great cause."

Quest Diagnostics' Makenzie Cox is the QuestCares Team Captain this year, leading employees in their effort to raise $30,000 for the American Cancer Society, the company said. The team has 150 walkers lined up for the Parsippany Making Strides walk on Oct. 20. Employees at Quest's Madison Giralda Farms location voted with their wallets on their team name—"Michele's Cancer Crusaders"—in memory of Makenzie's mom and Quest colleague Michele Cox, who walked with the team last year.

"Cancer hits hard and we want to fight back," she said. "We'll be walking for those we've lost, for those who've won, and for those who are or will be fighting. And we'll be raising awareness and having a blast while we do it. We hope everyone will come out and have some fun."