PARKERSBURG - More than 200 people turned out Saturday night for a night of '60s music at the City Park Pavilion in support of a local couple dealing with medical issues.
Several local bands, including Plan B, Britain, Hope, Band of Brothers and Work in Progress, joined together in support of Rick and Debbie Budgett of Parkersburg.
John Gallagher, the event's chairman and a local musician, said Rick Budgett is suffering from eosinophilic pneumonia, a life-threatening disease, while his wife, Debbie Budgett, is recovering from a spinal cord injury, a fractured neck and broken back suffered in a traffic accident nearly two months ago.
Article Photos
Longtime local band Britain performed at a ’60s music-themed fundraiser Saturday night at City Park Pavilion. The band included, from left, John Gallagher, Preston Dabbs, John Jobes, Don Staats and Rick Budgett. The event was in support of Budgett and his wife, Debbie. (Photo by Wayne Towner)
Gallagher said the couple had been getting along - with a lot of hard work - when Debbie Budgett's accident and injuries set them back, so he and some others decided to help the couple out.
Like Gallagher, Rick Budgett has been a local musician for years, with the two playing together in Britain. The group was active in the local scene years ago and still plays together every couple of years for events like Saturday's fundraiser, although usually with less of a personal connection, Gallagher said.
"Everyone knows him and this was a way to help out," he said of Rick Budgett, who was on stage with Britain for the opening of Saturday night's show.
The fundraiser ran from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, filling the pavilion with the sounds of the 1960s. Plan B and the other bands played songs from the Beatles, The Byrds, Crosby, Stills and Nash, the Zombies and some Motown groups.
Gallagher said there was no admission charge, with the money raised coming from drawings and concession sales. The donations will aid the Budgetts with medical and living expenses, he said.
The final amount raised was not known this weekend, but Gallagher said he was pleased with the turnout by the bands and by the people who came to hear music and support the couple with a helping hand in their time of need.
Rick Budgett said he was surprised and pleased with the event's turnout on Saturday night, due to the cold weather and the timing just after the Thanksgiving holiday.
"I would just like to thank everyone involved and we appreciate all of the support they showed," he said of Saturday's event.
