Greenville talents to aid Pike County cancer patient
Published 11:51 am Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Local musical artists are going to share their talents in Troy to help a little girl who is fighting a big battle.
Kevin Sport, host of the television show “The Right Place,” and Renny McNaughton will join Benjie Sanders and County Line and Nashville recording artist Daryle Singletary for a benefit concert for EB Johnson. The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday, May 21 at the Pike County Fairgrounds in Troy.
EB, the three-year-old daughter of Troy Johnson and Marla Johnson, was diagnosed with a very rare form of brain cancer in November 2009. The little girl had to endure numerous surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. A stroke occurred after the removal of a lemon-sized tumor, and now she is working to regain skills in walking, talking, feeding herself and many other tasks of daily living.
“There is good news. As of April 9, there were no cancer cells detected in her spinal fluid. However, she’s got a long way to go to get back to being that active, lively little girl she was before,” said Sonja Newton, who is helping organize Friday’s benefit with her sister, Jessica Helms.
“We want to help take some of the financial burden away so Troy and Marla can focus only on her care and expenses. Troy puts on a gun and badge everyday as a detective for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department, and Marla shapes the minds of our children and shares a love of learning as a teacher in Goshen. We want to show them the community is here for them.”
Helms said she is extremely proud of Greenville-area talents and volunteers “stepping up for this awesome family.”
Volunteers from the Alabama Power Service Organization in Greenville will be assisting with the event, to be hosted by Bart Snyder and Anna Garrott. Admission is $5 for kids and $10 for adults. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs; no alcohol is permitted.