Drummers, supporters band against cancer Not only does event benefit a good cause, it's a great deal of fun Where can you find a Maypole, a chanting Indian tribe, bellydancers, a yurt, (circular tent-like structure) and a portrait-painting pig all coming together to fight cancer?
At drumSTRONG '08.
The second annual event took place last weekend from Saturday to late Sunday afternoon.
Camping out under the stars and musical groups on stage were just part of the attraction for 1,500 people at Misty Meadows Farm in Weddington. It was like a modern-day Woodstock, minus medicinal substances and live births. It was clean, well-planned and family friendly.
I went to cover the event and felt compelled to return Sunday to buy a T-shirt and Frisbee with the drumSTRONG logo in support of this important charity.
Founder Scott Swimmer and 19-year-old son Mason are cancer survivors. They want to eradicate the disease. So the drum circle was born to promote cancer support, education and research. The vibe was relaxed and welcoming with colorful tents dotting the rolling pastures.
World-famous Arthur Hull of village music circles, twice named "Best Drum Circle Facilitator" by Drum Magazine, led the circle. He calls himself "a rhythmical evangelist" and his vigor is infectious.
He was there to stimulate improvisation. He does it in honor of his father who has beat cancer more than once and is now in his late 80s.
Hull said, "There were many cultures here, even a late-night group of teenagers after prom on Saturday. Last year at 4 a.m. there were eight drummers; this year at 4 a.m. there were 30."
Scott boasted, "We drummed for exactly 26 hours nonstop. We webcast and received solid positive response from countries as far away as Japan, Germany, South America and points all over North America (and Hawaii). We are drumming to make the "c" monster a thing of history."
Carola Swimmer praised Papa's Pizza in Weddington. Brendan Ciganek, the owner, brought pies last year after he locked up. This year he fed the diehard drummers at midnight after he was closed. He told Carola he would crank the oven up again. When she felt bad about bothering him, with Sunday his day off, he said "It's perfect; I have more time to make you pizzas. I have the whole year to sleep."
He then brought more pies at 3 a.m.
Carola says, "The community has so much to give, good energy, good people, that's why the area attracts so many newcomers. Lots of layers give the city its soul."
She thinks children who came last year and this year to partake will be "called back again by the beat of the drum as they grow to use the event as a reunion for a good cause."
Some exhibitors and sponsors were Pigcasso designs by Smithfield the painting pig (www.paintingpig.com), Coldstone Creamery and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies.
The Drum doctor was on hand to repair instruments, Jeff Cravotta was the official photographer and books were sold for children with cancer to relate to treatment. WRFX 99.7 FM radio, Presbyterian Hospital, Carolinas Medical Center, Hospice of Charlotte, Earth Fare and Yoga One were on hand.
Matt Reynolds, 13, who met Mason in the hospital with cancer, is now well and training his dog, Willow, to be a therapy dog for other kids. Brandon Elam's family came in memory of the son they lost only seven months ago at age 16. Elam was a local Union County teen diagnosed at 13 with brain cancer and was featured in the news often.
Casey Davenport of Matthews, who attends UNC Wilmington, was hula-hooping Sunday. He is Mason's friend and expressed what a great time he had.
"It wasn't just the fun and fellowship that made it special, it was the reason that we were drumming, it was for a cause that hits home with me with the passing of my grandmother who struggled years and succumbed to pancreatic cancer. My mind kept drifting to her. I realized why I was standing there; I was meant to be there and honor her memory and her struggle. I won't forget how I felt today."
The sale of prayer flags, merchandise and other donations totaled $150,000; pledges were still coming in after the event, with totals expected to reach $200,000.
You can make donations all year. The third annual drumSTRONG will be May 16-17, 2009. OUR TOWNS
Want to know more?
Visit www.drumstrong.org. drumSTRONG is produced by DrumsForCures Inc. a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit charity organization.
Drop me a line
If you have something to share about Weddington, I'd love to hear from you. E-mail: smonaco@charlotteobserver.com
I welcome photos (make sure everyone is clearly identified left to right). Drop them in the mail or e-mail them as a JPEG file. Be sure to include a daytime phone number. OUR TOWNS Sari Monaco
