Over 140 bands at 20 venues, from Gettysburg to Waynesboro to Thomasville, performed rock, country, Irish, acoustic, and other styles of music to raise money for kids with cancer last weekend at this Fall’s “Gettysburg Rocks” festival.
The musicians performed for free and the venues provided stages and sound systems. The shows were also free of charge, but the audience contributed to the cause by putting money in the donation buckets, buying t-shirts and bidding on silent-auction items.
All profits from the events go to Four Diamonds, a unique organization that provides support, including financial aid, to children diagnosed with cancer and their families.
Brady Lucas from Four Diamonds spoke to the crowd Sunday at the Pike Restaurant, thanking all the bands that performed and the people who made donations. Lucas was diagnosed with cancer at the age of six and saw firsthand how Four Diamonds was there with him and supported his family through three years of treatment.
Lucas explained that Four Diamonds covers all expenses not covered by health insurance for kids who are patients at the Penn State University (PSU) Medical center in Hershey. The contributions include cost of travel, lodging for the patient’s families, and even help with home financial hardship including utility bills and compensation for lost income because of the disease.
Please be sure to view the slideshow, including both images and videos, of the Gettysburg Rocks festival.
At age 14 Lucas’ cancer came back. The new treatment included a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother. Again, he beat the cancer, went to Penn State, and got involved with Four Diamonds. Lucas helped plan the annual PSU Dance marathon, known as the THON, and after graduation Four Diamonds offered him a job as a gift officer.
At Gettysburg Rocks there is a local connection to Four Diamonds. Two of the organization’s committee members, Sharon and Mike Calandrelle, have a granddaughter, Bree, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 16. Four Diamonds stood with them during her treatment, which included a trip to St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Four Diamonds covered all expenses that insurance didn’t, including travel to St. Jude’s. Bree is doing well today and her grandparents proudly give their time and effort to Gettysburg rocks.
Gettysburg Rocks was started in 2014. The original concept for the festival was just an idea until founder Rob Simon’s daughter Ashley approached him to help her with a fundraiser for Penn State Mont Alto’s THON group. During an 11-week period the first Gettysburg Rocks event was planned, created, and implemented.
It was an immediate success.
The first event was held on the weekend of February 7, 2014 and included 130 live bands across 12 venues in Gettysburg. The event raised over $14,000. After the success of the first event, Rob was approached by several of the participating venues to do a warm-weather version of the popular festival and the August event was created. Since its inception, Gettysburg Rocks has raised $166,563.
The quality of the music last weekend was awesome. It is incredible to have so many acts perform, many with original compositions. Many of the musicians are from Adams, Franklin, and York counties. They play at bars, coffee shops, open mic nights, or at each other’s homes for the love of music.
Derek Frantz, from Mt. Joy in Lancaster County, who performed as “Serencia” at the Pike Restaurant on Sunday, said he enjoys performing his original songs and networking with the other musicians. “Doing it for a good cause makes it all worth it,” he said.
Gettysburg Rocks will return in February 2020 where again they will be “Beating Pediatric Cancer One Song at a Time.”
Pete Vogel, freelance reporter and photographer, is a writer and photographer in the Gettysburg Area.