SummerLark, the third-annual fundraiser to support the Cancer Patient Support Program at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center will be held Saturday, May 11 at Bailey Park in Innovation Quarter.
SummerLark will showcase a live concert by the renowned rock band, Barenaked Ladies, with local band Crenshaw Pentecostal opening the show. Attendees can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere with a variety of food trucks, a free photo booth and health care vendors all contributing to a memorable experience. Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster and can be purchased on Giving.WakeHealth.edu/SummerLark.
Barenaked Ladies has sold more than 15 million albums, earned Grammy nominations, and won multiple Juno Awards, and in 2018, was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The band is known for hits like “One Week” and “If I Had $1,000,000” and has become an institution with a passionately dedicated audience, enough for them to headline their own cruises and have an ice cream flavor named after them.
Keyboardist Kevin Hearn has battled cancer twice during his musical career. He has recovered both times and credits music as a huge part of his recovery. "Musically it made me more aware to not think of things in the far distant future," he said.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to host Barenaked Ladies at this year’s SummerLark,” said Ruben Mesa, M.D., president of Atrium Health Levine Cancer and executive director of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is part of Atrium Health Levine Cancer. “Not only does music serve as a healing therapy, other programs and services of our Cancer Patient Support Program benefit those who need it most.”
“Cancer casts such a heavy burden, but with the outreach and dedicated care this program provides, these patients don’t have to battle their journey alone,” added Mesa, who is also vice dean for cancer programs and professor of medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
“Our team is here to attend to the emotional adaptation of patients and care partners navigating a cancer journey,” said Katie Duckworth, Ph.D., director of the Cancer Patient Support Program and Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “By supporting our program, you are touching thousands of individuals within our community who have been impacted by cancer.”
Funds raised through SummerLark contribute as much as 50% of the Cancer Patient Support Program’s annual operating budget.
“The generosity of this community makes the services of the Cancer Patient Support Program possible for our patients,” said Lisa Marshall, Wake Forest Baptist’s chief philanthropy officer and vice president of philanthropy and alumni relations. “We are grateful for the support of partners to ensure no one faces cancer alone.”
Allegacy Federal Credit Union, a longtime supporter and active sponsor of the event, is the presenting sponsor for the fourth straight year. Chairs of this year’s event are Brian Vannoy, senior executive vice president and chief revenue officer of Allegacy Federal Credit Union and Dixon Douglas, director of partnerships and customer loyalty for Flow Automotive and small business owner of two Triad CycleBar locations.
More information about SummerLark can be found at Giving.WakeHealth.edu/SummerLark.
Media contacts:
Jenna Kurzyna, jkurzyna@wakehealth.edu
Joe McCloskey, jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu