Members of the Elite Powerlifting Federation (EFP), such as five-time World Champion George Lazzareschi, have taken on the biggest challenge of their careers.
The EPF, along with The Doghouse Powerlifting Organization for Children’s Charities, will host the New England Regional State Championships this Saturday, November 24, at the storied Ocean State Gym located at 10 Morgan Mill Road in Johnston.
“All lifters are welcome,” Lazzareschi, a Johnston resident who works in the Alarm Unit of the Providence Fire Department, announced earlier this week. “We want novice, high school, military, correctional, police, cross fit and masters, full power, push-pull and bench press competitors … we advise lifters to enter as soon as possible, because we have to limit the field to 65 lifters.”
Lazzareschi, who is also vice president of the Providence Italo-American Club on Broadway in Providence, and who has scaled extraordinary heights in the often grueling world of power-lifting, said, “I can’t stress enough the importance of the championships; these will be the biggest lifts ever for those men and women who compete here Saturday.”
Saturday’s event will also be known as “Powerlifting for Serenity” – a 12-year-old girl who weighed just one pound and 12 ounces at birth and battles cerebral palsy and has VP shunt that she will need the rest of her life.
“Princess Serenity Berryman,” said Gina Sabitoni-Arakelian – a Johnston resident and power-lifting champion who helped Lazzareschi form The Doghouse Powerlifting Organization for Children’s Charities – “has had more than 11 surgeries on her head to replace or repair the shunt. Yet, she has a special super power that can light up a room with her always-present smile.”
Serenity is also very nearsighted, has mild to moderate hearing loss and is wheel-chair bound.
“Problem is Serenity is in dire need of an electric mobile wheelchair,” Sabitoni-Arakelian, who doubles as the Administrative Assistant for the RI Laborers District Council in Providence, explained. “That’s why we are requesting donations from as many lifters and other people as possible to surprise Serenity with that much-needed chair.”
To which Lazzareschi added: “It takes skill, strength and stamina to compete as a power-lifter but let me tell you, what Serenity does is a more resounding success than the lifting levels of anyone who’ll compete here Saturday.”
“Serenity is the epitome of strong, one of the happiest young ladies you will ever meet,” he said. “She belongs to a dance troupe in Lakeville, MA.; she is a cheerleader for the Dighton-Rehoboth Falcons Challenger Cheer and a fan of Monster High Dolls and Toys.”
She is also in the seventh grade at The Grace School, located at the nationally-acclaimed Meeting Street School, where Lazzareschi and Sabitoni-Arakelian have donated to other causes and immediately fell in love with Serenity.
“Everyone that meets Serenity agrees; she is a beautiful, strong child that makes a lasting impression,” Sabitoni-Arakelian said. “George and I met her at the school and immediately felt the need to help. It makes all of us feel awesome to give back … especially for Serenity. With other people’s help, we hope that we can and will surprise Serenity with an electric mobile wheelchair.”
Those interested in making a donation for the electric wheelchair – or would like further entry information for Saturday’s championships – should call Lazzareschi at 837-5984 or Sabitoni-Arakelian at 499-1317.
There are a number of sponsorship levels available for Saturday’s competition, including Bench Press-$300; Squat-$200; and Deadlift-$100.
Sloan Lazzareschi, RI State Chairman of Elite Powerlifting Federation and Co-RI Chairman Al Tridenti announced that entry forms are available at elitepowerlifting.com/current_events.html. Weigh-ins will be held Friday, November 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday’s championships will begin with a rules meeting from 8:30 to 9 a.m. and competition will get underway at 9:30 sharp.
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