We’ve written a good bit about award-winning resonator guitarist Phil Leadbetter this past two years, from the time he was diagnosed with a pernicious cancer in April of 2011, through to his recent announcement that he had likely been cured following a stem cell treatment this September.
Like most folks who win their battle with cancer, Phil is now a strong advocate for medical research, and has participated in a number of fundraisers to that effect.
Last month he assembled a team for a cancer walk in Knoxville called Light The Night, made up of family and friends, including Phil’s good buddy, the actor David Keith, who is a big bluegrass fan. During the walk, Phil also caught up with the University of Tennessee’s men’s basketball coach, Cuonzo Martin, who is a survivor of the same kind of cancer as Phil’s.
Leadbetter’s team completed their stroll, and collected from their supporters, raising much-needed cash for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Tennessee.
The following weekend, the team was commemorated during the Legends Nationals race at The Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“An old school buddy of mine’s son is a racecar driver. His name is Reid Wilson, and he has been winning like crazy. He is shooting to be a driver in NASCAR. They put a commemorative decal of me on the race car when they ran at Atlanta. Really pretty cool I think!
The decal says ‘Team Philibuster Light The Night Lymphoma/Leukemia Walk’ and has the date of the walk October 25th.”
Pretty cool, indeed.
