Oxford prepares for Todd Harvey benefit this weekend
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.
After Panhandle’s performance concludes, the event will take a brief hiatus to allow families to go trick or treating throughout the village. The festivities will resume at 8 p.m., with Third Row taking the stage, followed by the event’s headliners, Skyline featuring Cassidy Lynn. This final act will play until 1 a.m.
In keeping with the Halloween theme, Martin explained that there will be costume contest between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. with prizes awarded for funniest, scariest and best costumes.
A $10 cover will be charged for the second half of the show, according to Martin. Those who wish to see all four bands, may purchase a day pass for $15.
Also taking place on Saturday will be a live auction from 2 to 3:45 p.m., featuring over 140 items donated by local merchants and private individuals. Cataloguing it all took more than four hours, according to Tim Wakefield, who is coordinating the auction.
According to Wakefield, some of the most notable items include several guns donated by CZ USA, diamond jewelry from McNeil Jewelers, sports memorabilia and more. In addition, he said, “we’ve got a lot of good quality gift baskets” valued at $100 or more each.
Lambrecht Auction of Walton will be donating their services for the live auction, Wakefield added
In addition to the planned activities, food and beverage items will be available for purchase and raffle tickets will be sold throughout the day.
Sunday’s activities will begin with a breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the American Legion Post in Oxford. A portion of the proceeds from the meal will be donated to the cause, Martin explained.
At 9 a.m., registration will begin for a benefit Poker Run sponsored by the Red Knights Chapter 40. According to the Oxford chief, the fundraising ride will be open to not just motorcycles, but cars and trucks as well and will take place rain or shine. A registration fee of $20 per vehicle will be charged, which includes one hand as well as live music and meal upon return to the fire station. Passengers will pay $10 each, plus $5 for each additional hand.
The ride itself will begin at 10 a.m., following an 80 mile route with stops at Jerry’s in Bainbridge, the Hitching Post in Harpursville, Nathanael Greene’s Publick House in Greene and the Balsam Inn in Pharsalia before returning to the fire station at approximately 2 p.m.
The afternoon’s festivities, which are included for those who participate in the poker run, will consist of a pig and beef roast and two live musical performance. Sundown will perform from noon to 2 p.m., followed from 2 to 6 p.m. by Jason Wicks and Pure Country.
“There is just so much going on,” said Martin, who added that all events will take place rain or shine.
“On a safety note,” the fire chief noted that there will be heavy pedestrian traffic throughout the village during the weekend and advised that motorists exercise caution. Members of the fire police will be on hand to direct drivers as needed. Parking will be available at the Oxford Middle School, behind the Stadium, in the two village lots, in the Mason’s/DEC lot on Main Street and in accordance with posted parking signs on village streets.
The Oxford Fire Department has also enlisted the assistance of other fire companies to ensure coverage throughout the district while the events are taking place.
“Nearly every fire department in the county is providing a mutual aid standby during the benefit,” Martin said.
“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.
After Panhandle’s performance concludes, the event will take a brief hiatus to allow families to go trick or treating throughout the village. The festivities will resume at 8 p.m., with Third Row taking the stage, followed by the event’s headliners, Skyline featuring Cassidy Lynn. This final act will play until 1 a.m.
In keeping with the Halloween theme, Martin explained that there will be costume contest between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. with prizes awarded for funniest, scariest and best costumes.
A $10 cover will be charged for the second half of the show, according to Martin. Those who wish to see all four bands, may purchase a day pass for $15.
Also taking place on Saturday will be a live auction from 2 to 3:45 p.m., featuring over 140 items donated by local merchants and private individuals. Cataloguing it all took more than four hours, according to Tim Wakefield, who is coordinating the auction.
According to Wakefield, some of the most notable items include several guns donated by CZ USA, diamond jewelry from McNeil Jewelers, sports memorabilia and more. In addition, he said, “we’ve got a lot of good quality gift baskets” valued at $100 or more each.
Lambrecht Auction of Walton will be donating their services for the live auction, Wakefield added
In addition to the planned activities, food and beverage items will be available for purchase and raffle tickets will be sold throughout the day.
Sunday’s activities will begin with a breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the American Legion Post in Oxford. A portion of the proceeds from the meal will be donated to the cause, Martin explained.
At 9 a.m., registration will begin for a benefit Poker Run sponsored by the Red Knights Chapter 40. According to the Oxford chief, the fundraising ride will be open to not just motorcycles, but cars and trucks as well and will take place rain or shine. A registration fee of $20 per vehicle will be charged, which includes one hand as well as live music and meal upon return to the fire station. Passengers will pay $10 each, plus $5 for each additional hand.
The ride itself will begin at 10 a.m., following an 80 mile route with stops at Jerry’s in Bainbridge, the Hitching Post in Harpursville, Nathanael Greene’s Publick House in Greene and the Balsam Inn in Pharsalia before returning to the fire station at approximately 2 p.m.
The afternoon’s festivities, which are included for those who participate in the poker run, will consist of a pig and beef roast and two live musical performance. Sundown will perform from noon to 2 p.m., followed from 2 to 6 p.m. by Jason Wicks and Pure Country.
“There is just so much going on,” said Martin, who added that all events will take place rain or shine.
“On a safety note,” the fire chief noted that there will be heavy pedestrian traffic throughout the village during the weekend and advised that motorists exercise caution. Members of the fire police will be on hand to direct drivers as needed. Parking will be available at the Oxford Middle School, behind the Stadium, in the two village lots, in the Mason’s/DEC lot on Main Street and in accordance with posted parking signs on village streets.
The Oxford Fire Department has also enlisted the assistance of other fire companies to ensure coverage throughout the district while the events are taking place.
“Nearly every fire department in the county is providing a mutual aid standby during the benefit,” Martin said.
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