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Frederick musicians rally to help local stroke victim

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Photo courtesy Doug Alan Wilcox

That’s what Frederick resident Deborah Wilcox has been going through since Sept. 11, 2005 when she suffered her stroke and started her long journey toward recovery.

Facing insurmountable medical bills, a group of local musicians have rallied around Deborah and her husband Doug, a longtime musician on the local scene himself.

‘‘Friends Helping Friends,” a musical showcase benefit, will be held for the Wilcox family from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at La Paz Mexican Restaurant downtown and will feature performances by 10 well-known musicians.

‘‘This will be a great time,” said Doug Wilcox, who is looking forward to playing with many of his friends during the event.

The musicians include many who used to travel around the local bars, but haven’t played for years.

Besides Wilcox, other musicians at the event will include Bill Lebherz, Andy Carignan, Kevin Delmolino, Dale Angleberger, Rod Deacey, Ken Kerr, Don Ohlsson, Dave Horch, Tomy Wright, Todd Walker and Fred Humbert, as well as several others who plan to drop by and play.

Each musician is donating his or her time for the event.

Event organizer Judy Murphy, a family friend, is delighted with the musical turnout.

‘‘These are people who used to perform 20 years ago,” she said.

This is the second benefit that local musicians have held for Deborah, although the first — held last fall — was on a much smaller scale.

Friends Helping Friends When: 1-4 p.m. Sunday Where: LaPaz Mexican Restaurant, 51 S. Market St., Frederick. Tickets: $20 in advance, $22 at the door For information: 410-458-0769

During the evening, there will also be a silent auction, with all items donated by local artists and businesses, including ceramic items and artwork donated from Baltimore Clayworks.

All of the items up for sale are unique, Murphy said, such as a local handyman who is donating a half-day of his services.

Graham and Marcy Baker, owners of La Paz Restaurant, are also donating their restaurant. Food will be available throughout the event.

Both Murphy and Wilcox are expecting a large crowd, although not many people have taken advantage of advance ticket purchases yet.

‘‘There’s really not a target for what we hope to raise,” Murphy said, adding that any amount of money will help the family pay these bills and all proceeds will be given to them.

Murphy is also familiar with many of the musicians who are booked for the event, because she had them come to coffee house events at Hood College more than 20 years ago, she said.

The event will be almost like a reunion for many of the musicians.

Doug Wilcox, who used to travel around the East Coast playing guitar and singing, is now his wife’s primary caretaker and has begun playing locally.

‘‘This is a longer road than we imagined,” he said.

His wife is still affected greatly by the stroke and has had trouble getting access to good care and the necessary physical therapy that she needs because of a lack of health insurance, he said.

But Deborah is not passive about her illness. She has spent months gathering educational materials and joining support groups dealing with strokes and is excited about handing out that information during the event.

‘‘Stroke can happen at anytime to anyone of any age,” Deborah said in a press release.

‘‘Although my stroke has forever changed me, I still consider it a gift – a gift that has opened my eyes wide to how serious this medical emergency can be,” she said.