By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
Local musicians are getting together this Sunday afternoon for a benefit show to assist a Ridgetown woman who recently lost everything in a house fire.
Rocky West has rounded up four other musical acts to perform in the fundraising benefit this Sunday at the Ridgetown Royal Canadian Legion Branch 243.
Doug Bain, Phil Jacobs, Wayne King, and Willis & McGuire will also perform in the fundraising concert, which runs from 1-5 p.m.
The concert is being held to assist Tamara Byron, who lost everything but the bedclothes she was wearing and her dog when her Ebenezer St. home was completely destroyed by an early morning fire on Feb. 19.
“I’m doing it because she needs help,” West said. “She lost everything – her home, her business, her belongings. And she had no insurance.”
Byron ran a dog grooming business out of her home, so she has also lost a source of income.
“She was our dog groomer,” West said. “I had to do something to help her out.”
“You have to do things for people when they need help,” he said.
Another reason for West to get involved in helping a person in need is how the local community rallied around him around 10 years ago when he was undergoing prostate cancer treatment.
A GoFundMe fundraiser and donation jar at the Ridgetown Independent News office helped cover expenses not covered by OHIP for a High Intensity Focused Ultrasound procedure for West, since surgery was not an option because of other health issues.
West, who has been in a wheelchair since early childhood, has travelled across the country, sharing his musical talent at many local events and venues since moving here in 2015.
In a news story in the Ridgetown Independent News in the fall of 2017, West thanked everyone who donated, saying, “I have only been in Ridgetown two years, so I wasn’t expecting the amazing response I received from the people of our town.”
Now, West is paying forward the assistance he received from the community to help Byron.
“It’s my birthday present to her,” West said. “I turn 74 the day before the benefit, so this is what I’m doing for my birthday.”
West has been going around town seeking donations from businesses for a prize table, which will be raffled off throughout the afternoon.
He has also arranged for Loads of Love to assist in furnishing an apartment, once Byron gets settled in, as she is currently staying with a friend in town.
West is donating a 12-string guitar and case himself.
Food and beverages will also be available.
Admission is by donation, as West is hoping everyone is generous in helping Byron.
If anyone is interested in donating an item for the raffle draw or would like to donate but cannot attend Sunday’s benefit, they can call West at 519-359-0911.
