To say Iudice has inspired all those around him during his ordeal would be a gross understatement.

There will be a benefit for him, Jan. 27, a Friday night, at the Danversport Yacht Club with a portion of the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society and Iudice will probably go into hiding that night.

"Gary hates the limelight. He doesn't want any special attention," Colleen Iudice, his mother, explained. "He never wants to be singled out. He gets embarrased."

Nonetheless, his mother's admiration for Gary grows every hour on the hour. She has plenty of company in that respect, including all those who are acquainted with him.

"It's been a tough road for him. He's a typical teenage kid with a big obstacle to overcome and he does it with grace. I'm very impressed with him," Mrs. Iudice said. "He has stood up remarkably. The oncologist told us he's had only one other patient who to this point made it through (treatments) in time. Usually there are setbacks from chemotherapy. You get sick and blood transfusions are needed.

"Gary is a week behind schedule only because he wanted school vacation off to be with his friends. He hasn't needed any transfusions."

He's been a profile in courage, his mother said, recalling Gary's plight.

Such is his love for sports that he begged his mother to cancel a doctor's appointment so he could perform for Peabody's U16 soccer team at states in Amherst.

"He begged me to cancel the exam," Mrs. Iudice said. "He did have leg pain. He had broken his wrist playing hockey three weeks before and I figured with rest the pain in his lower leg would go away. I thought he may have got hit in a hockey game. I didn't pay much attention, to be honest. Then I was thinking the leg would heal after the broken wrist. It did nothing to stop him. He was out playing basketball in front of the house (on Palmer Ave.)."

He'd come in at nightfall and tell his mother that his leg was hurting.

"Gary played the whole game at Amherst, but he wasn't the rabbit he is runnining down the field. A lot of people mentioned it. He never complained, however."

This was no torn ligament, as some suspected. The Monday after the tournament he had X-rays at Mass. General, where his mother is an X-ray tech in Emergency Surgery, and it was discovered Iudice had an aggressive bone tumor, Osteosarcoma, a form of cancer that is found in young adolescent males. He was diagnosed June 23, had 10 weeks of chemotherapy and had surgery to remove the tumor in his lower right leg Oct. 5.

He also had a total knee replacement on that trip to the operating room, his fibula was removed and three quarters of his tibia. A rod was inserted in his femur bone to the ankle.

"The chemo is supposed to kill off the tumor," Mrs. Iudice said. "His tumor was supposed to be 90 percent dead. Instead it was 100 percent alive. It didn't respond to the chemo. They changed his chemo drug."

He is facing another surgical procedure at Mass. General Thursday.

Iudice was one of those kids who always scored three goals in a Peabody Youth Soccer game and was a bolt of speed on the ice. His best sport? A tossup. He did both as a PHS freshman and surely would have won a spot on the hockey varsity this winter. Once his health has improved it's likely he'll initially do soccer. He's also been an avid snowboarder and skateboarder.

Meanwhile, he perseveres and amazes his mother on a daily basis.

"He's tough. He takes it all in stride," Mrs. Iudice said. "I tell him to stay home from school when he's not feeling well . . . he still goes. Gary is neutropenic. He has no white blood count, which makes him vulnerable to colds, anything, but he keeps persevering. He just got off crutches and is wearing a knee brace. He attends school when he can and has kept up his academics with great tutoring help, especially from John Champi, who assists him at MGH and at his home. Those tutors hav been super, totally dedicated."

There are only five drugs used for treating Osteosarcoma and he's already been through three of them.

He's on a 21-day cycle for chemo at MGH, spending Monday through Friday one week, then is home for 14 days. His mother stays with him at MGH. His room was a busy place over the summer. Friends like Tim Correia, Mike Lapore, John Denisco, Justin Famageletti and Jessica Bille would take an early train into town and spend the entire day with their pal. There were other schoolmates, too. As well as the support of his sister Shauna, 19, and brother Paul, 12.

Every month Iudice sets a goal for himself. He wants to get his driving license and has resumed lessons at Tanner City. That's his next project.

"I think this whole thing has taught him the meaning of his family. His aunts have been incredible," Mrs. Iudice said, citing Paula Dooley and Tina Wroblewski, as well as Gary's step-father to be, Athan Vontzalides.

The immediate family and relatives have bonded like never before.

There will be dinner and dancing, 7 p.m. to midnight, at the fundraiser, along with raffles and a silent auctions. Tickets are $30. Those wishing to make a donation can do so in the name of Gary Iudice at TD Banknorth, Lowell St., West Peabody 01960. For ticket information and donations, contact Paula Dooley, 4 Wentworth Road, Peabody, 01960 or at either (978) 535-8289 or (978) 771-3706, or by E-Mail at Pauladool@aol.com.

Bill Kipouras is a staff writer at the Salem News. He can be reached at (978) 338-2615 or by E-Mail: bkipouras@ecnnews.

To say Iudice has inspired all those around him during his ordeal would be a gross understatement.

There will be a benefit for him, Jan. 27, a Friday night, at the Danversport Yacht Club with a portion of the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society and Iudice will probably go into hiding that night.

"Gary hates the limelight. He doesn't want any special attention," Colleen Iudice, his mother, explained. "He never wants to be singled out. He gets embarrased."

Nonetheless, his mother's admiration for Gary grows every hour on the hour. She has plenty of company in that respect, including all those who are acquainted with him.

"It's been a tough road for him. He's a typical teenage kid with a big obstacle to overcome and he does it with grace. I'm very impressed with him," Mrs. Iudice said. "He has stood up remarkably. The oncologist told us he's had only one other patient who to this point made it through (treatments) in time. Usually there are setbacks from chemotherapy. You get sick and blood transfusions are needed.

"Gary is a week behind schedule only because he wanted school vacation off to be with his friends. He hasn't needed any transfusions."

He's been a profile in courage, his mother said, recalling Gary's plight.

Such is his love for sports that he begged his mother to cancel a doctor's appointment so he could perform for Peabody's U16 soccer team at states in Amherst.

"He begged me to cancel the exam," Mrs. Iudice said. "He did have leg pain. He had broken his wrist playing hockey three weeks before and I figured with rest the pain in his lower leg would go away. I thought he may have got hit in a hockey game. I didn't pay much attention, to be honest. Then I was thinking the leg would heal after the broken wrist. It did nothing to stop him. He was out playing basketball in front of the house (on Palmer Ave.)."

He'd come in at nightfall and tell his mother that his leg was hurting.

"Gary played the whole game at Amherst, but he wasn't the rabbit he is runnining down the field. A lot of people mentioned it. He never complained, however."

This was no torn ligament, as some suspected. The Monday after the tournament he had X-rays at Mass. General, where his mother is an X-ray tech in Emergency Surgery, and it was discovered Iudice had an aggressive bone tumor, Osteosarcoma, a form of cancer that is found in young adolescent males. He was diagnosed June 23, had 10 weeks of chemotherapy and had surgery to remove the tumor in his lower right leg Oct. 5.

He also had a total knee replacement on that trip to the operating room, his fibula was removed and three quarters of his tibia. A rod was inserted in his femur bone to the ankle.

"The chemo is supposed to kill off the tumor," Mrs. Iudice said. "His tumor was supposed to be 90 percent dead. Instead it was 100 percent alive. It didn't respond to the chemo. They changed his chemo drug."

He is facing another surgical procedure at Mass. General Thursday.

Iudice was one of those kids who always scored three goals in a Peabody Youth Soccer game and was a bolt of speed on the ice. His best sport? A tossup. He did both as a PHS freshman and surely would have won a spot on the hockey varsity this winter. Once his health has improved it's likely he'll initially do soccer. He's also been an avid snowboarder and skateboarder.

Meanwhile, he perseveres and amazes his mother on a daily basis.

"He's tough. He takes it all in stride," Mrs. Iudice said. "I tell him to stay home from school when he's not feeling well . . . he still goes. Gary is neutropenic. He has no white blood count, which makes him vulnerable to colds, anything, but he keeps persevering. He just got off crutches and is wearing a knee brace. He attends school when he can and has kept up his academics with great tutoring help, especially from John Champi, who assists him at MGH and at his home. Those tutors hav been super, totally dedicated."

There are only five drugs used for treating Osteosarcoma and he's already been through three of them.

He's on a 21-day cycle for chemo at MGH, spending Monday through Friday one week, then is home for 14 days. His mother stays with him at MGH. His room was a busy place over the summer. Friends like Tim Correia, Mike Lapore, John Denisco, Justin Famageletti and Jessica Bille would take an early train into town and spend the entire day with their pal. There were other schoolmates, too. As well as the support of his sister Shauna, 19, and brother Paul, 12.

Every month Iudice sets a goal for himself. He wants to get his driving license and has resumed lessons at Tanner City. That's his next project.

"I think this whole thing has taught him the meaning of his family. His aunts have been incredible," Mrs. Iudice said, citing Paula Dooley and Tina Wroblewski, as well as Gary's step-father to be, Athan Vontzalides.

The immediate family and relatives have bonded like never before.

There will be dinner and dancing, 7 p.m. to midnight, at the fundraiser, along with raffles and a silent auctions. Tickets are $30. Those wishing to make a donation can do so in the name of Gary Iudice at TD Banknorth, Lowell St., West Peabody 01960. For ticket information and donations, contact Paula Dooley, 4 Wentworth Road, Peabody, 01960 or at either (978) 535-8289 or (978) 771-3706, or by E-Mail at Pauladool@aol.com.

Bill Kipouras is a staff writer at the Salem News. He can be reached at (978) 338-2615 or by E-Mail: bkipouras@ecnnews.