ILLAWARRA businesses and members of the community are coming out in force for a one-off event on Tuesday night to help local music icon Graham Wilson in his fight with brain cancer.
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Among them are the Cancer Council's Jenny Jones and a generous team from Shellharbour Relay For Life.
The Lagoon Seafood Restaurant's Andrew Harrison, Sharon Howson, Emma Goldsmith and Ray Smit have also been on the committee and working around the clock to make the event happen.
After being inspired by Carrie Bickmore's speech at The Logies, the committee has arranged for 300 beanies to be made in the brain-cancer colour that will be for sale for men to wear with their black ties.
Sean Keaveny, of Arena AV, has donated all the sound gear, lighting and plasma screens throughout the venue to help those who will be unable to see the stage directly.
Rick Berry, of DoorFix, not only booked three large tables but provided vehicles to help transport prizes and equipment.
Dean McLerie, of Paragon Chauffeured Car Service has offered to drive Wilson to the event in style and, as late as Monday, many people and businesses were still donating prizes.
Steve Melchior, of Just Cruisin' Harley Tours, has joined Skydive The Beach, Skin Correctives, Peoplecare, Centro CBD, Sturman Electronics, Pipers Wollongong Music, Jennifer and Doug Symes, Adam Morgan-Monk, Little Leonardo's Art Studio, One Agency's Sally Absalom, WIN Entertainment Centre, Mike T Real Estate, Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, Australian Aerial Patrol, Haworth Music Centre, Take A Hike, Kathy Karas Art, Impact Art, Escape 778, JPD Surf, Tania Holmes, Envie Fitness, Mary Kay, Susan Wallis, Mini Sweets and Gifts, Beti Krsteski, and North Beach Boutique to give items to help raise funds for the former member of the Four Kinsmen.
George Harvey and Robert Pearson have made themselves available to help Scott Radburn celebrate the career of one of Wollongong's favourite sons.
The Kinsmen are widely regarded as one of the world's best variety acts and are one of the most awarded live acts in Australian history, winning 27 Mo Awards and four ACE awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Radburn is being joined in MC duties by Wollongong entertainment icon Rikki Organ who himself won 11 Mo Awards and whose career took off after winning Bert Newton's popular television talent show New Faces.
Leigh Stewart is the auctioneer for the night, with that part of the evening to feature a major artwork depicting a portrait of Wilson surrounded by an abstract representation of his life - from performing in the US, images of his passion for sport and of the city he grew up in and loves.
A Mo Award features along with hand-written music for a song he wrote and recorded about Wollongong called Close To Heaven.
It is in the palm of his hand, his shirt cuffs, neck collar and in various other parts of the painting by Shellharbour artist Natalija Vocanec.
Among the entertainers attending the fundraiser are Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Paul Martell, Jane Scali, Doug Parkinson, Frank Ifield and Col Joye.
Wilson said he was grateful not only because so many people were helping him but that the event was raising so much awareness about brain cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death for people under the age of 39 and children under 10.
It carries the highest financial burden and is one of the most under-studied of all cancers. Around 1600 people a year will be diagnosed with brain cancer in Australia and about 1200 die.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3218920/graham-wilson-gives-a-hand-to-art-piece/?cs=3737
