Sound Support

Fredonia’s ability to rally around one of their own was shown this past Saturday at the Masonic Lodge on East Main Street. The annual Rockin' the Commons was unfortunately rained out of the commons, but the event still rocked on and honored Fredonia student Nick Spawn.

Nick was a junior at Fredonia when he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in December of 2008.

According to Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, “Acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia is a life-threatening disease in which the cells that normally develop into lymphocytes become cancerous and rapidly replace normal cells in the bone marrow.” Treatment can include chemotherapy, several combinations of drugs and a bone marrow transplant.

A group on Facebook titled “Nick Spawn and Leukemia” has been updated regularly by Nick’s girlfriend and Fredonia alum Care Frandina. The group chronicles Nick’s progress and includes a couple of entries from Spawn himself about how he was doing. The entries really give insight to how ALL drastically changed Nick and Care’s lives, but throughout it all they managed to keep a positive attitude and hold fast to their faith. Along with his medical progress, Nick discussed his desire to play soccer again and his plans to head back to Fredonia in either spring or fall of 2011.

This year at WNYF Fredonia Radio Systems many of the staff members knew Nick or had heard his story, so they decided to have the event honor Spawn and give all of the proceeds go to Roswell Park (where Nick was treated) to benefit research and patient care for people diagnosed with ALL.

“If you know someone on campus, why not try to make things easier for them, not even just for him, for anybody who has leukemia. I mean his type involves getting a bone marrow transplant, which is really, really hard process to go through, to find a donor who matches and all that kind of stuff. So anything we can do to make other people’s lives easier why not do it?” said junior theatre major and member of WNYF Jordan Rizierri.
“Because you never know, that’s the thing I keep telling people – You never know, it could be someone you know or it could be you.”

The day was packed with good music, good food, good fundraising and good people. “Today was pretty sweet, it was a nice event. There was a lot of bands that were just jamming for a good cause,” said Nick. “You know Pardi Gras they really pump it up.”

Eight Fredonia local music groups performed throughout the day, including the Fredonia Jazz Ensemble, Much More Chill, Pardi Gras, The Long Drive Home and closer The New Traditionalists.

“It means a lot to me to be asked to do this,” said junior English major and guitarist for The New Traditionalists Tim Corner. “It was a bit of a bummer that it was indoors, but it still worked out I feel.”

Chiavetta’s Chicken BBQ was also served. Gift baskets and certificates from many local businesses were donated for a Chinese Auction, including an Oneida pan set, a Buffalo Bills themed basket with a min-helmet signed by Trent Edwards, an Interview-prep basket from the Career Development Office and a basket filled with 50 dollars worth of lottery tickets. People also dropped cash into a collection basket throughout the day. The raffle prize was a 1 GB ipod Shuffle donated by the Division of Academic Affairs. Buster Brown Bean Company also sold orange creamsicle drinks during the afternoon and all the proceeds went directly to Nick and his family. The orange color of the drink was inspired by the awareness color of leukemia.

The turnout may have been hindered by the rainy weather, but people still came out. “I thought it was very successful, it was awesome that so many people came out. It was very fun, great music, great food,” Care Frandina said. “It was stinky about the weather, so it was pretty successful. The radio station did an awesome job putting this all together.”

The event came together with the help of Sound Services and the Teacher’s Education Club along with WNYF. The support of Fredonia community members and students helped to raise money for a cause that really does hit close to home.