CAPE CORAL, Fla. — It's a rockin' New Year's Eve in Cape Coral, with a new band supplying the beat. The rock band Signal III is made up of six police officers, playing their first gig at the South Cape New Year's Eve party. And while the show is free, the band still found a way to raise money to help a young boy battling leukemia.
"The idea (for the band) surfaced over the summer," said Steve Barnes, a lieutenant with the Cape Coral Police Department, and one of Signal III's three guitar players. "We really started practicing in September, then we bumped it up to twice a week in December."
While they jam, the six band members are keeping someone special in mind: six-year-old Adyn, the son of retired Cape Coral Police detective Erica Pickett, is undergoing treatment for leukemia.
"We wanted to do something for them," said Captain Mike Torregrosso, the band's manager. "So we came up with a fun t-shirt. We're going to raise a little money and give the proceeds to the family."
Signal III has already sold most of the hundred t-shirts they had, which feature a picture of the band, along with its logo, and imaginary tour dates which have all been "cancelled."
"The community and the people have been fantastic," Torregrosso said.
"It's all for charity, just to have fun," he added. "(The band members) have a passion for it. It's a great thing."
Signal III was scheduled to take the outdoor stage on Southeast Forty-seventh Terrace at 7 p.m. Monday, followed by the band Soulixer.
