5 Boys Fend For Selves After Mom Dies

5 Boys Fend For Selves After Mom Dies
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 updated: 10:57 am EST December 17, 2008

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Five teenage boys, forced to take care of themselves right before the holidays, are seeing the spirit of others.

Their mom died five days ago but now, the Lake Brantley High School football team and much of the community are rallying behind the kids.

A lot of the story revolves around two best friends, both defensive tackles, both with dreams of playing at the University of South Florida. Their friendship was tested last week when one boys mother died, leaving him with nothing but the responsibility of caring for himself, his brother, and three cousins.

Jeff Dorcely is 18-years-old. Hes looking after two 17-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old. The five had lived with their mother in a tiny two bedroom apartment. But their mother went into the hospital the night before Thanksgiving and never came out.

"They found a large mass on the right side of her brain, said Jeff.

Without warning, five young men found themselves with no money, no one to take care of them, and no food.

"We got free lunch at school and took advantage of that," Jeff said.

Jeff, a star football player with dreams of going pro, is now faced with working to support the rest of the boys. When best friend and fellow defensive tackle Danny Palmer found out what had happened, he moved quickly.

We have to I have to do something," said Danny.

He organized the entire Lake Brantley football team and the players came together to plan a garage sale and car wash to help out a fellow teammate.

Food, funeral, anything extra to help out with college, said Danny. He really wants to go there."

The fundraiser is scheduled for this Saturday, at Lake Brantley High School from 8am to 1pm.

There is also a fund set up for the five kids at Orange Bank. Dorcely Family Fund
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