Emma Sartin (11, HSU) is hosting the ALS Benefit Show tomorrow, October 10 at Spinelli’s downtown. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and every $8 entrance fee will be donated to the ALS Association. ALS, which stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a disease that not only affects the brain and nerves but also muscle movement. It is commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease and primarily affects individuals from the ages of 40 to 70.
Sartin’s benefit will feature several local teenage music acts, including Westynne, Mason Osborne, Hannah Thompson, Lily Gentry, Jake Keisler and Taylor Marksbury. All of the musical acts will also be participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
“I have a project for my Relationships and Parenting class at Manual that’s called ‘The Power of One,’ and the objective was to show how much one student can have an effect on his or her community,” Sartin said. “I decided to host a benefit for ALS because I knew teenagers would willingly donate extra money to dump ice buckets on their friends. ALS is a detrimental and life-altering disease, so I decided to raise that money for the ALS Association.”
Collegiate senior Jake Keisler was happy to help the cause and gain experience.
“I’m playing guitar and doing the Ice Bucket Challenge, and I chose to perform primarily to spread awareness of ALS,” Keisler said. “I also like performing and it’s good for the experience because I need to work on my performances.”
Sartin promoted the event by putting up flyers on Bardstown Road and also created a Facebook page for the event to which over 800 people were invited.
“Putting together any kind of event is very stressful,” Sartin said. “You have to gather bands, you have to find a venue, and you have to book a sound guy. Then, on the night of the show, there is the added stress of breaking even. Thankfully, the owner of Spinelli’s said he would waive the fee for the venue.”
Atherton senior Hannah Thompson expressed excitement to be playing guitar and singing folk music for everyone at the event.
“It is helping me get my music out there, but it’s also helping an organization,” Thompson said. “I love the idea of playing shows that are for better things than just having fun.”
Sartin hopes that the event will not only help promote local music acts, but also increase ALS awareness.
“I got into the local music scene as a freshman in high school and I can honestly say that it has saved me,” Sartin said. “I can’t imagine helping out the community in any other way.”
