'Shoot for the stars': Musicians hope to help with benefit show for Morgan Pardy
Performers and musicians are coming together to raise money for Morgan Pardy, a 21-year-old woman left paralyzed after a vehicle rollover on Pitts Memorial Drive March 20, and her family.
Pardy was left paralyzed from the waist down after the vehicle she was in left the road near St. John's.
On Saturday night, nearly a dozen performers will raise money at the Come Together Concert of Hope for Morgan Pardy 8 p.m. at the Factory in downtown St. John's.
"She went to the same school as my little sister ... and when this all happened, it just kind of hit home for me in a big way," said musician Matty Rose, one of the concert's organizers, who grew up in Mount Pearl like Pardy.
"And her friends and that crowd of people always supported me as a musician coming from Mount Pearl, so it just was important, I guess that we get something together."
Tremendous support
Rose and the Mighty Rovers will perform, along with High Tide, Chris Ryan, Donnie Dumphy, Flare Gang Mafia, Zack Werner, Larry Foley, Selina Boland, and Freddy Coffey rounding out the bill.
He said right from the outset, the outpouring of support and commitment has been excellent.
"I've often noticed in times of tragedy that entertainers and musicians alike always seem to be the first ones in line to offer up their talent, or their job, or whatever it is they do to help someone," said Rose.
"We get a lot of support, and it's quite easy to give it back for even a few minutes ... and maybe raise a thousand, $10,000, who knows."
GoFundMe account nears $25K
Musician Chris Ryan said he can't fathom what Pardy and her family are enduring.
"I kind of cringe thinking about the change that she's going to have to go through, and the things that you almost take for granted. Just your natural mobility," he said.
The family will need items like a wheelchair, a new vehicle and a number of renovations to their home.
Ryan said he and the other performers want to help make things easier for the family.
"We want to shoot for the stars here and raise as much money as we possibly can ... so we're hoping it's going to be a great night."
Pardy has been moved from the Intensive Care Unit to one of the wards in the Health Sciences Centre.
Rose said the benefit has really lifted her spirits.
"Myself and Chris are doing a little visit with Morgan before [the concert]. I think we're going to play her a few songs," he said.
"Right now, I think doctors are saying that it's very unlikely that she's going to walk again. But she's conscious and has use of her arms and her hands, but she's a strong girl and I'm sure that she's going to rise above this hard time."
A number of local businesses have also been raising money, including Coffee Matters, Robin's Donuts, Magnum & Steins, and Quidi Vidi Brewing Co.
By Saturday morning, the GoFundMe account set up by a family friend has received almost $25,000.
