B² GEARING UP FOR 3 NIGHTS OF ROCK AND AWARENESS

 

Local businesses and musicians are gearing up once again for the B² Benefit for Cancer to be held April 1-3 at The Boro Bar and Grill.

The B² Foundation has been holding the cancer benefit for the Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville since April of 2000. Since then, the benefit has raised more than $7,000 dollars for the organization which provides overnight accommodations and support for terminally ill outpatients and their families. Funds from the B² Foundation and other organizations have helped the Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville to open a new facility in January. With the help of these organizations, The Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville hopes to raise funds for further expansion to help meet the high demand for lodging.

When the benefit was formed, its original intent was to raise funds to help offset the medical expenses of local resident Brian Bowen who was ill with cancer. Brian, who the benefit was named after, was diagnosed at the age of 25 with Ewings Sarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer.

Friendship in our circle means Family.. Family always looks out for one another. We decided, because of our connections in the Murfreesboro music community, we had to help out, foundation president Razz Sutton said.

The first benefit gathered together local businesses and local musicians for a three-night event at The Boro. When the event raised approximately $1,500, Mr. Bowen decided to donate a portion to the Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville.

Mr. Bowen passed away in August of 2000. The next spring the B2 Foundation was officially created to help keep alive his memory and raise awareness of the disease that took him.

This years musical lineup features bands such as Rooftop Society, Laws Rushing, Autumn Morning, Dr. Gonzo, and The Craig Murphy Experience.

We try to book bands that dont normally get the chance to play together. We also try to book bands that are mainstays, like Dr. Gonzo, and newer bands, like Rooftop [Society], to help bring a large and eclectic crowd, said event organizer Marianne Dedmon.

Sponsors for the event include, Neals Lighting Center, Steaks to Go, Century 21, Icon Tattoo and Piercing, and Bill Jakes Hardwood Flooring. The sponsor list is growing, and event organizers have gotten the Tennessee Titans to donate an autographed ball to be sold at a silent auction during the event.

Our goal for this year is $3,000. We almost made that last year when we raised $2,900 it would be great if we can raise over $10,000 within a five-year period, said Sutton.

For donation information the B² Foundation can be reached via e-mail at b2foundation@comcast.net , or by mail at B² Foundation C/o Marianne Dedmon 1211 Greenland Drive Murfreesboro TN, 37130.

 

Generosity keeps foundation duo busy

The B² have had a busy week. Nearly three weeks after their 5^th annual B² Benefit for Cancer and organizers Marianne Dedmon and Razz Sutton are still jockeying the phones and having several lunch meetings.

This the most rewarding part of putting together the benefit year after year, so we really dont mind putting in the extra work, said B² Foundation president and organizer Razz Sutton.

Whats been keeping these two busy the past few weeks has been collecting the pledges and writing all of the thank you letters to the various individuals and local companies that contributed to the Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville through the foundation. When the event, held April 1^st through the 3^rd, pulled in over $4,000 and new donations still coming in, the two knew that they were in for a lot of work. But exceeding their goal of $3,000 has made putting in the extra hours all the more worth it. In the past, the organization has raised approximately $7,000 for the Hospital Hospitality House which helped them to open a new facility in January.

What has been the key to the local benefits success? Organizer Marianne Dedmon mulls the question over for a bit and then thoughtfully says, This benefit has a lot of history with loyalty, friendship and a wonderful sense of family to it.

The event began back in the spring of 2000, when several friends of local resident Brian Bowen put together a benefit night at the Boro Bar and Grill to help raise funds for Brians medical costs in his battle with an aggressive form of bone cancer. Razz Sutton and Brian moved to Murfreesboro together in September of 1995 from Decatur, Alabama to attend school at MTSU. Over the years the two had gained a close circle of friends rich with loyalty and love.

Friendship in our circle means family. We were really lucky to have found a group of friends that cares so much for each other, weve all pretty much become each others second family, said Sutton.

When Brian became ill in 2000 the friends decided to band together and help their friend.

We decided the with our connections in the Murfreesboro music community, we had to help out, continues Sutton.

The first event brought in $1,500 for the event, a portion of which Brian decided to donate to a local charity which had helped him and his family throughout his illness and thus began the relationship between the B² Foundation and the Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville. The Nashville based charity provides temporary housing, counseling, and a variety of other services to the families of terminally ill patients receiving treatment here in Nashville.

Brian Bowen passed away in August of 2000 due to complications from his illness. The next spring, the friends of Brian officially created the B² Foundation in order to keep alive his memory, raise awareness of the illness that took his life, and continually benefit his chosen charity.

This years event was held at the Boro Bar and Grill on Greenland Drive in Murfreesboro.

Were really grateful to the Boro, theyve always been willing to work with us to throw this event every year an assist us any way they can, said Dedmon.

The event included three nights of rock and roll, with several bands a night.

A lot of these bands have been playing for us every year, like Dr. Gonzo and Craig Murphy, and a lot of the newer bands, who never even knew Brian, see how much work we put in to it and how much dedication goes into the foundation and are more than willing to help out, said Sutton.

This year the benefit featured acts like the aforementioned Dr. Gonzo and Craig Murphy Experience, with newer local bands like Autumn Morning, Across the Fields, 44 Vegas, Victor Furious, Rooftop Society, Mofuka, Laws Rushing, and Nada Ca Ca rounding out the bill. There was also a raffle of various prizes donated by area merchants such as Neals Lighting Center, Marinas On the Square, and many others on all three nights. The third night culminated in the silent auction of an autographed football donated by the Tennessee Titans which Brains father Buck won.

Our goal for this year was to raise $3,000, we wanted to have raised $10,000 for the Hospitality House over a span of five years. Its wonderful that we have managed to exceed that goal by all of the generosity of the people, said Dedmon