I thought I'd share an article that was published today in the Huntington(WV) Herald Dispatch that features my band and the charity organization
Rock 4 Wishes which we work with on a regular basis.
Rock 4 Wishes is a smaller scale charity in the WV, OH, KY tri-state region with a very hands on approach. My band has worked with them since day 1 and it's been a great experience for us. I'm very proud to be able to help with their events and just wanted to share and raise awareness of the organization and what it's doing.
Here's an excerpt from their mission statement:
we will commit to raising as much funds as possible to grant wishes for all people who have life threatening illnesses, live their lives handicapped, live in poverty, and for people that have always wanted their greatest wish in life and could never have it due to a financial limitation.
Article:
Rock benefit fulfilling dreams of those going through challenges
The Charleston-based metal band Voices of Anatole will perform as part of the Rock 4 Wishes concert Thursday, Oct. 29, at Shamrock's Pub in Huntington. Rock 4 Wishes concerts help local people with health or other challenges fulfill wishes.
October 29, 2009 @ 12:25 AM
DAVE LAVENDER
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- To get to Florida you don't usually take 3rd Avenue but Rock 4 Wishes has been using that route to make its way to the Sunshine State.
Doors open at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, for The Rock 4 Wishes Halloween Costume Benefit with a full metal jacket of rock acts including, All the Above, Relative Obscurity, Voices Of Anatole and Given Hatred at Shamrocks Pub, 2050 3rd Ave., (across from Joan C. Edwards Stadium).
Admission is a donation of $5 or more if you've got a costume and $7 without. Money raised goes to get Sherman, W.Va., resident Mark Cummings and his family a trip to Gainesville, Fla., to meet his idol University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
The Shamrock's show will feature giveaways throughout the night of donated merchandise from bands, restaurants, The Herald-Dispatch and many other local businesses.
Stephen Barrell, who started Rock 4 Wishes a couple years ago in Grayson, Ky., said he's hoping for a huge response from students and area rock fans wanting to come out, have fun and support someone's dream.
"We're trying to get as many people out as we can to take part in it," Barrell said. "We have people leave with the greatest positive feeling because we are all there with a common goal to help somebody out in the community."
Rock 4 Wishes began in August 2008 and has been putting on rock concerts to raise money to fulfill dreams for area residents who are ill, handicapped or in need of help. Organizers have been working for a while to get Cummings his dream trip to Florida.
"Mark was in a bad car accident two days before he graduated high school in 2002 and severed his right arm and leg in the accident, and they had to revive him three different times and didn't expect him to live," Barrell said. "He's just a remarkable young man because not only did he survive but he is one of the most energetic guys with a great sense of humor that you would ever want to meet. To go through that and still be like he is, is a testament to him. So I really wanted to help him out."
Rock 4 Wishes threw a giant birthday party for a local cancer survivor's son as her wish, they flew in a Hollywood actor from "Bloodsport" to meet a young man with cerebral palsy, and this is the third concert they've staged to raise enough money to fly Cummings and his immediate family to the University of Florida.
"It's taken a little bit of time but when somebody comes to Rock 4 Wishes no matter how long it takes we go until they get their dream fulfilled," Barrell said. "We want rock fans to know it's OK to be caring about people and it's all right to get back to what it's all about -- helping each other out."
Barrell, who has put on as big a concert as a 22-band benefit in 2008 at the Carter County Fairgrounds featuring such locally-based but internationally-known bands as Hydrogyn and Bobaflex, said locally no band has been as good to always respond as Voices of Anatole.
The Tri-State-based, five-man metal act Voices of Anatole, that was featured at this year's X-Fest and has opened for Nonpoint, Godsmack and many others, also headlines a Witch's Ball on Saturday night at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, W.Va.
"Anytime we have a show in West Virginia, which is a lot, they always want to be a part of it," Barrell said. "They're probably one of the most caring groups of individuals that I've ever met and they always get up close and personal with the people that we grant wishes to."
Voices of Anatole drummer Brent Crabtree said the band, which has been together since 2005, has had a great time playing all of the Rock 4 Wishes events, meeting new friends and fans and helping folks in the process.
"We might be a heavy, hard-core metal band but inside we've got soft hearts and we're willing to help just about anybody in need," he said.
