Cambridge Jeffersonian Article

The "Christmas to Cure Cancer" Band will host a benefit to raise money for cancer research on Dec. 5 at the Villa Milano in Columbus.

Members of the former band "Aereon" a group of musicians who played together in New Philadelphia and surrounding areas during the 1980’s, will be performing. A concert last year raised close to $30,000 for cancer research. The ""Copers" Cancer Support Group at Southeastern Med will be taking a tour bus to Columbus for this event and has seats available for anyone who is interested in attending.

A few years ago, Mark Puskarich of Westerville, formerly of the Piedmont area, began thinking about reuniting the band and possibly recording some Christmas music in the form of a CD. Puskarich introduced the idea to Cody Romshak of Piedmont and Lorne and Corrina VanFossen of Uhrichsville. Once the idea received support, former Aereon member and now professional Christian artist Dave Clo of Nashville, Tenn., was contacted. Clo had his own recording studio in Nashville. In December 1998, Romshak, Puskarich and VanFossen went on a shopping trip to purchase upgraded recording equipment and plans went forward to create the CD in Romshak’s studio in Piedmont.

However, a little over a year into the project, in early 2000, VanFossen, the guitar player, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After a year-long battle with cancer, VanFossen was on the road to recovery. Meanwhile, the group decided to make the CD and sell it to raise money for cancer research. The title "A Christmas to Cure Cancer" was conceived and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute in Columbus had partnered with them on the project. The CD would consist of Christmas and seasonal music and contain diverse musical styles including blues, country, folk and even heavy metal. The four original "Aereon" band members participated in the recording as well as contributions from Rob Ragsdale, Lois Puskarich and Janet Gallucci. Chris Dauphin of Nashville, sat in on the three gongs recorded in Dave Clo’s home studio over Labor Day weekend 2001. In addition, Lorne’s wife Corrina who is a member of Acoustic Grace and Sweet Harmony sang several songs for the CD as well as Fellow vocalists Julie Lucas and Michele Clay, all members of the Sweet Harmony group. Thus, with contributions from all of these talented artists, "A Christmas to Cure Cancer" was born.

Lorne continues to perform, playing guitar with the band for Elvis Presley impersonator, Mike Albert, who performs nationwide. Mitch Fox and Jan Roll also play in Albert’s Group. Clo, the son of a former St. Clairsville Baptist minister majored in jazz at the University of Cincinnati and has written and published lesson books for guitar and bass guitar. Visit www.daveclo.com for more information.

A tour bus will be leaving Southeastern Med at 5:30 pm on Friday, Dec. 5, heading to Columbus for the concert. Cost of the trip is $40, which includes transportation to Columbus and back as well as concert tickets, free CD and hors d’oeuvres. Reservations can be made by calling Becky Wheeler, Cancer Registry at Southeastern Med at 740-439-8156. Visit the website www.achristmastocurecancer.com to learn more about the band, the upcoming concerts or purchase a CD.

Another concert presenting an Evening with Mike Albert and the Big "E" band as well as local artists from the CD "A Christmas to Cure Cancer" will be at Dover High School on Sunday, Dec. 7. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and music starts at 7:30 p.m. Minimum donation of $20/person and each ticket holder will receive a Christmas CD at the door. To buy tickets for either of these concerts, contact Mark Puskarich at 614-438-3248, mpuskarich@yahoo.com or visit www.achristmastocurecancer.com. Net proceeds for these events benefit The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.