Front left to right - Johnny Staats, Bailey Lawson,
and Ron Sowell; Back Roger Bissell and Jon Sikstrom
Jackson General Hospital held a concert February 9th at the historic Alpine Theater in Ripley to benefit the First Annual Jackson County Heart Walk.
The Heart Walk is scheduled for February 16 at Ripley High School beginning at 9 a.m. with registration starting at 8 a.m.
The concert featured local artist Johnny Staats, National Mandolin Champion. Other featured performers were Ron Sowell, whose claim to fame is the Mountain Stage and Jon Sikstrom, national recording artist.
They were joined onstage by bass player Roger Bissell. The audience was entertained by the performance of many of their original songs during the nearly two hour concert.
Bailey Lawson, American Heart Association Banner Child and Honorary Chair of the Jackson County Heart Walk, was the honored guest. His banner was prominently displayed to increase awareness of children's heart disease-defects.
Bailey is the son of Scott and Alisha McEndree Lawson, and grandson of former Grantsville residents Glenn and Bobbi McEndree, the family currently reside in Spencer.
Bailey was born with a defective aortic valve which was repaired surgically in 2002 when he was less than one month old. He will require another surgery at around age 12 to replace his defective valve. He may require additional surgery prior to his planned valve replacement.
Bailey greeted concert goers as they arrived, handing out heart-shaped candy. One of the highlights of the evening was when Ron Sowell dedicated his song, "Opposite Day," to Bailey.
The American Heart Association is striving to increase awareness that heart disease-defects not only affect the adult population, but also children.
To accomplish this, the AHA has chosen ten children throughout West Virginia to be "banner children" for the next year. Each child will have a banner made which will be displayed at Heart Walks throughout the state over the next year.
If you would like more information about the Jackson County Heart Walk contact Rhonda Davis at 304-373-1597.
If you would like to learn more about heart defects/disease or make a donation to the American Heart Association, contact Kevin Pauley, Communication Director at 304-720-7834.
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