Otey's to host LLS benefit concert Friday

Will Haver didn’t realize how many people had fathers, daughter and other family members with leukemia and lymphoma until this spring. Since he announced that he was running for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year Award, at least 50 people have approached him to tell them about who they know who is battling or has battled the disease.

“It’s more prevalent that I realized,” he said. “It’s been really eye opening.”

The goal of the campaign is for each Man of the Year candidate to raise as much money as possible for LLS treatment, therapies and research during a 10-week period. The candidate who raises the most money is named Man of the Year. The campaign ends June 25 at 6:30 p.m.

To fundraiser for the campaign, Haver and his Man of the Year team are organizing a benefit concert at Otey's on Friday, May 29 starting at 6 p.m. John & Jacob out of Nashville will headline the event, and Forlorn Strangers and The Negotiators will also be  on stage. A beer tent will also be set up for the event. Otey's is asking for a $20 donation to LLS for cancer research for entry.

 “Thank goodness no one in my family is affected by [LLS],” Haver said. “But my friends are affected by it, and that motivates you. This is a serious, serious deal.”

Crestline-based RealtySouth realtor Fred Smith is in the running for Man of the Year, as well as six men and women, who are up for Woman of the Year.

At the end of the day, Haver said all of the candidates hate cancer and are trying to get the same message out there: “donate, donate, donate.” Most donations in the campaign are not thousands of dollars but $10 or $20, he said.

“Everyone wins,” Haver said. “These are good people I am competing against.”

For more information about Man of the Year or to donate, visit stopbloodcancer.com, wiLLScampaign.com or soldbyfred.com/lls-man-of-the-year-campaign/.