On November 29, Blackberry Smoke held a homecoming show at The Tabernacle in Atlanta. At this show the band donated $30,000 to the Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The donations were raised through the band’s VIP meet and greets from their 2013 tour.
The Aflac Cancer Center provides advanced diagnostic and clinical care, as well as innovative treatment and research options to children, adolescents and young adults. For every child and family they see, the Aflac Cancer Center provides a unique course of treatment-both clinically and emotionally. They strive to help children and their families through their often difficult journey of treatment. The Aflac Cancer Center is one of the highest volume pediatric centers in the country.
“We are thrilled and so thankful for this remarkable gift to the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center,” said Diane Vaughan, Senior Development Officer for the Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “Cure rates for childhood cancer have risen from less than 10% in the last forty years to just over 80%, but that’s not good enough – we have to reach 100% and cure every child with cancer, and your gift will help do just that!”
The Aflac Cancer Center is especially important to the band because of the personal meaning the center has had for drummer Brit Turner. Brit’s daughter, Lana, was treated at the center after being diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma Cancer when she was 3. With the support, help, and treatment from the Aflac Cancer Center Brit, Lana, and their family were able to get through this difficult time. Lana is now doing well and is 7 years old and in the first grade.
“It’s a great feeling to know that our band has such generous fans. I experienced it personally when my daughter Lana was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. Now, with the help of our fans purchasing band meet and greet passes, we had a chance to do something good with our momentum,” said Blackberry Smoke drummer, Brit Turner. “Our goal was to help these children and the hospitals that treat them. The doctors and families make it happen, but they need financial support. Our band wanted to team up with our fans to raise money for them and it worked. We hope this donation will help little kids with cancer.”
Blackberry Smoke and Blackberry Smoke fan’s participation in the donation to the Aflac Cancer Center is an investment in every child who has or will be diagnosed with cancer. The Aflac Cancer Center shares the knowledge and information gained from research with every childhood cancer program in the country.
To learn more about the Aflac Cancer Center, go to www.aflaccancercenter.org.
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