Brother's Deli 'Dunks' Children's Cancer (Photos)

A business owner, two deli clerks and a dunk tank.

What do they have in common? Together it was a perfect plan to "dunk" cancer and raise some money for a worthy cause.

Indeed, the effort was dubbed, "Brother's Deli 'Dunks' Cancer with Beauty and the Beast," and it happened in the parking lot of the deli at  owned by Lou Chiodo this past Saturday.

All proceeds went to the Christina Renna Foundation, the Renna family's , which was created and named after the daughter the family lost to childhood cancer several years ago.

Beauty was deli clerk Samantha Lukralle and the Beast was deli clerk - and son of the former owner of Knott's Deli in Lindy - Chris Knott.

Both of the good-natured clerks clad in their bathing best took turns on the dunk seat as customers and residents of Lindy came by in droves - despite some rain - and paid $5 for three throws.

"And one guy - Charlie Field, who's with the - donated $100 to the cause," Chiodo told Lindenhurst Patch.

The fundraiser ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Chiodo - who bought the 30-year-old business eight years ago - estimated a couple of hundred people had already shown up by 12 p.m. on Saturday.

By then, he said, the fundraiser had already generated approximately $700 for the charity, and was on track to raise more than $1,000.

The Renna family - Phil and Rene, and their son, RJ - were there in support of the effort - one that Chiodo devised on his own and brought to RJ - who frequents the deli - several weeks before the event.

"Lou came to me with the idea, and I thought it was a cute idea," RJ Renna told Patch. "He really came through in a big way."

The Foundation runs several of its own fundraisers each year - including a fishing trip, plus an annual golf outing at , an and the Annual Memorial Blood Drive and Walk-a-thon at the , set this year for Sunday, September 23.

However, Phil Renna said, "It really means a lot to us when someone wants to raise money for the Foundation independently."

So much so that Phil, Rene and RJ Renna, along with some of the Foundation's board members, presented Chiodo with a plaque for his effort.

Chiodo was humble about the honor, noting he was happy to help and give back.

"I thought this was a good idea - the dunk tank - to raise some money for a good cause," said Chiodo, who also owns another deli in Westbury.

He got the idea from one his employees, Kathy Perles, who said she saw the tank being used while she was doing a catering event in Patchogue.

"I saw it, and I got the flier. I gave to Lou, and he did the rest," she said.

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