Bluegrass musician and author John Santa is once again organizing a series of Marathon Jams to benefit Fisher House in 2010. Last year, they held their event on January 31 and pickings were hosted in 7 US cities, and at Camp Victory in Baghdad. The idea is to announce a marathon goal – 12 hours of continuous jamming, noon to midnight – and seek donations from each community where the sessions will be held.
This year, the Marathon Jams are set for Saturday, February 27, and Santa says that they have already doubled the participation from 2009, when they raised nearly $10,000.
Fisher House is a nationwide organization that offers housing for families of wounded American servicemen and women who are receiving treatment at military hospitals, much as the Ronald McDonald House does for families of ill children.
According to Santa, their goal is to express gratitude to US servicemen and women, and help Fisher House assist their families.
“This is not about politics for us. It’s just a way to say thank you. And a way to say a very special thank you to the families, to the sons and daughters, the husbands and wives of all the people serving this great country. Regardless of your political views, EVERYONE wants these soldiers home, and home safely, and if we can’t have that right now, well, at least we can make it a little bit better for those who come home hurt and broken. This is a way we can show them how much we care.”
Anyone who would like to organize a Marathon Jam on 2/27 is urged to contact Santa from his web site, or event manager Whit Kenny by email.
Santa is also donating proceeds from his book, Bluegrass Is My Second Language, to the cause.
