September 27, 2009 Benefit concert and festival

John DeWeese Benefit concert and festival
SAVE THE DATE! - SEPTEMBER 27, 2009
Where: Shawsville Middle School Football Field (old Shawsville High School)

For everyone that has offered to help in any way - The time has arrived! September 27 (last Sunday in September) we'll be sponsoring a benefit concert/festival for John and his family. Our greatest need? PEOPLE.

We're still working on details and plans, but we know we need two things, volunteers and supplies for the following activities and getting as much people to show up as possible.

Here's a growing list of things we have planned:

• Motorcycle Poker Run - to begin and end at the event
• Antique car show
• FOOD - Now accepting commitments for donated food (hot dogs, hamburgers, barbeque, baked beans, etc.) - We'll need lots of bread and ice.
• Kids activities - Currently looking for inflatable moon bounces, rides, clowns, balloons, art, puppets, and other activities to keep the kids busy.
• Live Music All Day - Already have four bands and more coming up. Live music all day in 45-minute sets.
• Have something you or your business is willing to donate for:
• Door Prizes! - Everything works! such as gift cards, rentals, electronics, etc,
• Auction items - Taking all ideas and donations - Great timing for Hokie merchandise auction items, memorabilia, gift certificates, TVs, furniture, etc.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• HELP get the word out! We'll be providing fliers for the benefit event very soon.
  
• The more people, the more successful this event will be.
• PEOPLE to come out and spend some money on food, activities and lots of entertainment.
• VOLUNTEERS - People to help take and sell tickets, manage events, help cook and prepare food, Funny characters to attract people to dunking booth, and more.
• Remember - ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT JOHN DEWEESE AND FAMILY.
• Businesses and individuals donating larger items for auction, door prizes or cash can be included in our "Sponsors" list for advertising (ie. anywhere we advertise we mention our sponsors)
• Please contact me with any questions, suggestions or support (bobhopkins@mac.com)
  

Please continue to keep John in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks everyone.

Online Donation Account:

Well-deserved move

Quick note - John has officially MOVED out of Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He is now in room 724 at the Carilion rehab center - "Formerly Roanoke Community Hospital" - Just off the Elm Avenue exit on "I581."

John will be undergoing more rigorous physical therapy during his time in his new location - If you know John, you know he has been waiting for this and is eager to get it on. Please continue to keep John and the family in your thoughts and prayers. This is a great milestone, but everyone understands there's a long way to go.

Benefit - We are planning a (large as possible) event for late-September. This will most likely be held on the sports fields at the EastMont Middle School (formerly Shawsville High School football field). Lots of planning left to do, but we'll be looking for help to pull this off - ie. volunteers, vendors, cooks, bands, door prize items, auction items, etc. - Please let us know if you would like to participate as a volunteer, organizer or vendor for this event. *ALL proceeds generated will go to a super cause! More details as we move closer.

Thanks everyone.

Finally, real progress

Good news! John got news this week that he is (after meeting every milestone given to him) headed to a rehab facility on Monday, August 10!!

John will be moved to the old Roanoke Community Hospital - which is a Carilion rehab center.

Everyone is extremely proud of John's work ethic to get to this point. Doctors and insurance have been inserting new milestones for John to meet each time he had gotten close to a review for approval to rehab. he has successfully proven them all wrong each time.

Way to go John! We all knew you were always one step ahead of them all!

More info when we know exactly where he'll be at Community.

Thanks everyone.