Concert, poker run event to benefit Helena
Published 3:20 pm Thursday, September 3, 2009
Helena’s homegrown son, singer Bo Bice, is coming back home to help raise awareness and money for Helena organizations with a concert and poker run Sept. 26.
Bice himself came up with the idea of the Jammin’ at the Junction benefit concert, which honors longtime Helena resident Larry Childers, who passed away in February.
Jackie Wilder with the city of Helena said Bice wanted to remember Childers for all he did for the city.
“Bo Bice was the one who put forward the idea of the benefit concert,” Wilder said. “It’s to honor the work (Childers) did for the community. He served on the planning and zoning board, he announced all the city events.”
The poker run, which will begin at 9 a.m. in Old Town Helena, will benefit the Helena Police and Fire Explorers. The cost will be $25 to participate.
There will also be a cruise-in car show to feature classic cars, which will begin around 2 p.m. The concert will begin at 5 p.m. with Christian artist Alexia Rankin, folk act The Overalls and bluegrass/gospel singers Unshackled. Blues band 2BLU and The Lucky Stiffs will come on at 7 p.m., then rock band Rock Candy will play from 8-9 p.m.
At 9 p.m. Bo Bice will join Rock Candy on stage.
There is no admission fee for the concert or for the festivities, but donations are requested. Proceeds will benefit Helena Kiwanis, Safe House, the Institute for the Deaf, the city of Helena, Helena Police and Fire departments and Helena veterans.
Wilder said the city expects 3,000 people to come for the day’s events.
Joy Childers, Larry’s wife, said the benefit concert and poker run would just offer another excuse for the Helena community to gather and remember her husband.
“We come together very easily. This is one of the 100 best places to live, and one of our big things is community involvement,” she said. “We’re a very community-oriented place anyway, and this just enhances the community that much more.”
For more information, contact the city at 663-2161.