The National Cancer Institute estimates that there will be more than 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States this year and more than 27,000 deaths from the disease.
To raise awareness and money, three local musicians in the group Antaphi played free acoustic concerts every weekend last month at a Santa Clarita grocery store.
Lucas Jones, one of the Antaphi band members, worked in the deli at the local Pavillions a couple years back. Jones and his fellow band members, Dan Stone and Andrew Boligitz committed to the same prostrate cancer fund-raising efforts last summer and wound up with $2200 contributed by shoppers who believed in the cause and the music. The band is still totaling up this years donations.
“They like to stop and chat and tell us their stories about surviving cancer,” says Stone. “Either that or you can see their surprised faces as they walk in the store and hear us playing.”
In the fall, they will be performing at the grocery store again to raise money for breast cancer research. At the end of each performance, they gather the dollars dropped in an open guitar case in front of the location where they play and give it to the store manager for donation.
No, they don’t earn any money for their time and talent.
“The other day we each got a sandwich,” says Stone.
This from the charitable and music-loving (make that people-loving) enthusiast who sees the value in sharing his talents with others in need.
For further information, visit www.antaphi.com or www.prostatecancer.org .