For One Night Only: Local Doctors to Rock for benefit fundraiser for cancer patients and healthcare workers impacted by pandemic
Baton Rouge – Local doctors are putting down their stethoscopes to pick up guitars, drums and microphones for a benefit concert that will raise funds for cancer patients and healthcare providers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. John Lyons, M.D., Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, is once again teaming up with regional non-profit organization FestiGals to produce the third annual Baton Rouge Rock for Spots. Typically, the event is held to benefit skin cancer patients, but because of the tremendous COVID-19 relief needs, proceeds will benefit cancer patients at the Cancer Center. Also this year because of the need for social distancing, the event, usually held at a local venue, will go online and viewers will be provided with the opportunity to make a donation.
The one-night benefit concert supporting cancer patients, Rock for Spots will be held Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m. on the event website: rockforspots.org. It will feature a number of rock bands, including – Fret Medics, V – Tones, Blue Verse and–all comprised of local physicians and medical professionals.
Dr. John Lyons, founder of the event and chair of Skin and Soft Tissue Multidisciplinary Care Team at the Cancer Center, is eager to trade his lab coat for a guitar strap that night to rock out for the cause again.
“We’re overwhelmed by the incredible support at Rock for Spots over the last two years, but the needs are even greater this year as we fight cancer and COVID-19,” said Dr. Lyons. “As physicians and other medical professionals we see the toll the pandemic has taken and we believe the full impact is still coming. We hope the community will join us on July 23 for some safe fun and at the same time relieve some of the struggles cancer patients are facing because of the coronavirus.”
As part of the concert, hosted by Fox 44 and NBC Local 33 Evening Anchor Chad Sabadie, short live interviews with patients and medical experts will be introduced.
“Our excellent team of provides the highest level of care, but COVID-19 has created an added layer of issues for an already immensely complex situation for patients and Cancer Center team members,” said Danielle Mack, vice president and chief development officer, Mary Bird Cancer Center. “It’s going to be a great time with some great music and benefiting a wonderful cause. It’s so inspiring to experience physicians such as Dr. Lyons and many others fight cancer all day and then donate their evening hours to host this event for the community.”
For more information on Rock for Spots, contact Chrissy Dupuy at (225) 215–1221 or cdupuy@marybird.com.
About FestiGals
FestiGals, regional non-profit supporting causes with a purpose. FestiGals is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Diane B. Lyons, DMCP, CMP and ACCENT on Arrangements, Inc., a DMC NETWORK COMPANY. For more information on FestiGals, visit www.FestiGals.org or call 1-504-524-1227.
About Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center
As a regional destination for cancer care, Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center offers the most advance technology and services provided by a dedicated team of nationally-recognized oncology experts. The Cancer Center provides best-practice, comprehensive care at every stage of the cancer journey, including disease site-specific multidisciplinary care teams, a robust clinical research program, extensive supportive care services and is the only facility in the Gulf South with the revolutionary Leksell Gamma Knife®Icon™. The American College of Surgeons has named the Cancer Center a recipient of its prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award for three consecutive survey cycles. As a nonprofit organization, donor generosity is essential to sustaining the mission of improving survivorship and lessening the burden of cancer for so many throughout Southeast Louisiana and beyond. For more information on the Cancer Center, and how you can become involved, please visit marybirdlake.org.