Team Breanna Comes Out in Force for Coleone's Fundraiser

Team Breanna worked  owner David Wittschen and his staff hard on Wednesday.

Coleone's hosted a fundraiser from noon to 8 p.m. Twenty-five percent of the price of all orders went towards  student Breanna Sprenger's goal of competing at the Jimi Flowers Classic, a Paralympic swimming event in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Wittschen said he expected to sell about 600 pizzas for the fundraiser. That's more than twice what is sold on a typical Wednesday. And that doesn't include the pasta, subs and other items sold. During dinner rush, people were cheerfully willing to wait after being told it would be up to an hour for their takeout orders to be ready.

"This is like the Super Bowl," Wittschen said when he came out to greet the Sprengers briefly before having to dash back to the kitchen to make sure they didn't run out of dough. Coleone's does about 25 fundraisers like this a year, and this may be one of the biggest.

"She's a popular young lady," Wittschen said.

"I like seeing my friends and everyone," Breanna said.

Breanna, 10, was born without legs and her right arm, her left arm only has three fingers on its hand, and she had other serious health problems. But her parents, John and Carrie, have raised her to strive for what she can do, refusing to let her settle with what she can't do.

Breanna was recently featured in a series of stories in the Chronicle-Telegram.

"She's a great example for my kids," said Mary Robbins, mother of Daria, Breanna's close friend. "We want our children to achieve their personal best, whatever that is. Breanna has that in her, too. She wants to achieve her best. But it just takes a little more for her."

While Robbins was talking, Breanna and Daria were huddled together at the table where the Sprengers were sitting, checking out stuff on Daria's smartphone. They've been friends since preschool, share a love of Justin Bieber, and talk constantly on their computers to the point where Robbins will often hear the voice of John or Carrie Sprenger come over Daria's speakers telling Breanna to stop talking and get other things done.

"She's funny, creative, smart," Daria said of Breanna.

The Sprengers were thrilled with the community response. Parents of one of Breanna's swimming friends at the French Creek YMCA organized the event.

"We're overwhelmed," John Sprenger said. "But it's Breanna. She has a positive impact on people. We're just along for the ride."

Money raised for Team Breanna will help the family take Breanna to not only the Jimi Flowers Classic, but to Paralympics-level swimming events this year in Chicago, Cincinnati and Arizona.

The restaurant remained full through the dinner rush as people not only sat down to ate, but kept the take-out area busy as well.

"This is why people want to move to Avon," Robbins said. "You've got people who support you and businesses like Coleone's who are so generous and involved in the community."

Didn't make the fundraiser? You can find out more at Team Breanna's Facebook Page. Donations can be mailed to Team Breanna, P.O. Box 422, Avon, OH, 44011.