NILES, Ohio - NILES - Boxing legends and local celebrities stepped up to the plate Saturday evening for a cause close to home.

The Rallying for Robert celebrity softball game at Eastwood Field in Niles brought the Mahoning Valley together to support Brookfield resident Robert Lucarell, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2018. Since then, he has endured multiple hospital stays and surgeries, but said he wanted to turn his battle into something bigger.

“I thought about giving up about life, but I said, I gotta keep going,” Lucarell said. “Even though you have this disease, still chase your dreams and live your life normally.”

The fundraiser benefitted the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and was managed by Youngstown boxing icons Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik, who each led celebrity teams. Mancini said stepping up for the cause was an easy decision.

“Robert’s a wonderful young man… this will bring attention to something people don’t always understand,” Mancini said.

Pavlik echoed that sentiment, calling the event “a terrific way to bring awareness” and saying he was honored to be asked to participate. “I think this was a beautiful event, for a great cause, and I just hope everybody turns out and has a great time,” Pavlik said.

The game also included appearances from community leaders, patients living with inflammatory bowel disease and members of our 21 News team. Derek Steyer, Dana Balash and Corey McCrae all took the field in support of the cause.

For Lucarell, seeing so many people rally around him and others battling Crohn’s meant everything. “I know it says rallying for Robert. I’m actually rallying for everyone,” he said.

With baseball, music and community spirit, organizers said the message was clear: in the Mahoning Valley, nobody fights alone.