OXFORD – Two months ago, when the Oxford Fire Department began brainstorming ways to provide support for 23-year old Todd Harvey and his family, their intention was to raise as much money as they could for the young man who continues to battle a life-threatening form of skin cancer. With the fundraiser just days away, the organizers admit that the effort has grown larger than they ever anticipated.
“It’s truly incredible,” said Oxford Fire Chief Martin. “The support we are getting from the community, as well as the merchants, has been unbelievable.”
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Martin’s department will join forces with other community organizations to raise money for the young man.
After being diagnosed with malignant melanoma over a year ago, Todd had originally responded well to treatments, the fire chief explained. But this summer, he and his family learned that the aggressive cancer had metastasized to the young man’s lung. As a result, Todd has been undergoing aggressive treatments which require he and his family to travel to and from Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, as well as lengthy hospital stays, Martin said.
Once they learned that Todd’s condition had worsened, the Oxford Fire Department immediately started exploring their options for helping the family. For, while Todd himself had never been a member of the Oxford Fire Department, both his grandfather, Bill Harvey, Sr., and father, Bill Harvey, Jr., have long-standing associations with the volunteer fire service. There is no doubt that the Oxford Fire Department considers him one of their own.
What started as an idea for a single fundraiser has snowballed into a three day event involving numerous activities and several organizations.
“This thing has gotten huge,” Martin said, adding that he has been receiving phone calls from across the United States about the fundraiser and knows of people flying in from Virginia for the event.
For the last month, he and the benefit’s other organizers have been refining and adding to the weekend’s schedule of events.
The three-day benefit will kick off this Friday night with a Cruise In from 5 to 8 p.m.. at Lafayette Park, and include a live musical performance from 5 to 7 p.m. by Roughstock as planned. But that’s not all. The organizers have added in a Walking Poker Run, where participants will be encouraged to visit five local businesses: Hoppie’s, Roma’s, Clachan Coffee House, The Stadium and American Legion Post 376. At each, they will draw a card to build their poker hand, Martin explained. Then they will return to the park where prizes will be awarded.
At 7 p.m., the festivities will move to the Oxford Fire Station for Dueling Pianos where local musicians Matt Beadle and Mike O’Connor will face off to see who can raise the most in tips for the cause. Admission will be free to the event, which Martin described as part musical and vocal talent, and part improv comedy.
Saturday’s events will begin with an 18-hole, Captain and Crew Golf Tournament at Bluestone Golf Course. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The cost to participate will be $39 per person, which includes green fees and cart rental.
“We are still looking for golf teams,” Martin said, adding that hole sponsorships for $50 per hole, were also still available.
For more information, or to register a team, contact Kurt Spencer at 343-4481.
For those that prefer contact sports, a second tournament option - sumo wrestling - will be available starting at noon at Fort Hill park. For a $3 entry fee, contestants will suit up in super-padded gear and try to knock their equally-encumbered opponent out of the ring.
There will also be live musical performances throughout the day at the Oxford Fire Station. What If, the first of the day’s four bands, will take the stage from noon to 1 :45 p.m. They will be followed by Panhandle from 4 to 5:30 p.m. A $5 cover will be charged for the performance, which is expected to last until approximately 5:30 p.m.
