See the work of local artists and contribute to a great cause at Billups Art
Looking to check out some local art while contributing to a worthy cause? You’ll want to block off your calendar later this month for Fight Back/Move Forward, an art show benefiting the SAMFund for young adult cancer survivors.
Since 2003, the SAMFund has awarded $500,000 to more than 250 young adults all over the United States. Those recipients have used the money to pay for rent and utilities, car and health insurance premiums, graduate tuition, vocational training, student loan repayment, current and residual medical bills, fertility-related expenses, gym memberships and transportation costs. The SAMFund website describes why they do what they do:
Transitioning into your 20s and 30s is difficult; the job market is tough, real estate is expensive and the cost of tuition is at an all time high. Learning how to live on your own is difficult.
Now imagine that you have just finished cancer treatment. You have lost valuable time and savings. You feel like you are years behind everyone else in your age group. To top it off, you are suddenly faced with many expenses you didn’t have to think about during treatment. In addition, you are trying to pay off residual medical bills while acquiring new ones through follow-up tests and check-ups.
When all of these issues collide, how do you find a job, pay for rent and afford school?
While wonderful organizations exist for both cancer patients and survivors to provide support, none were solely to provide financial assistance for young adult survivors struggling with their transition into post-treatment life. Frustrated by the lack of support, we sought a way close the gap.
Fight Back/Move Forward goes down on October 22 from 6pm-10pm at Billups Art, located at 1008-C Woodland Street here in East Nashville. A donation of $5 gets you access to artwork from local artists Jeff Bertrand, Dustin Dirt, Brooke E, Janet Lee, Brandt Hardin, Erin Lord, Charles Bennett and many more, as well as music from John Salaway’s Acoustic Revolution. All proceeds from the door, as well as from any artwork sold at the show, will go directly to SAMFund.
