MANHATTAN — When retired long-time Bergman Elementary music teacher John Richard was diagnosed with his third bout of multiple Myeloma, Northview Elementary music teacher Laurie Davis says she came up with the idea of doing a benefit concert to help defer medical expenses.
It’s scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, March 24th at Peace Memorial Auditorium.
Davis found out about his struggle with the cancer when he was substituting for a teacher out on maternity leave.
The night will feature a silent auction in addition to performances by the Little Apple Barbershop Chorus as well as multiple school choirs and others. Davis also says she reached out to K-State’s Dr. Frank Tracz.
Davis says the silent auction is being driven by donations and includes arts and crafts along with KSU football and basketball tickets.
Davis taught music for 24 years in the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 School District. This is his third bout with cancer since 2000. It reappeared in 2014 and was treated with chemotherapy and a second stem cell transplant. In 2018 the Myeloma returned in the vertebrae and he recently received radiation to shrink the tumor. He and his family are hoping for a third stem cell transplant sometime this year.
A GoFundMe account has also been set up to help support Mr. Richard. As of Friday, it had reached $5,200 of a $6,000 goal.
Silent auction items include:
Handmade greeting cards for all occasions
K-State t-shirt quilt and two additional handmade quilts
Handmade crocheted christening gown
Handmade knitted slippers
Tailgate pep band from K-State
Set of 4 football tickets to a fall K-State game
Set of 4 men’s basketball tickets to a March game
Framed K-State marching band picture
Personalized signage: wood or crocheted
A landscape photo by local artist, Lauran Jackson
