Jazzfest-eve concert to honor cancer survivors Oct. 16

The Delaware Celebration of Jazz will hold a special Cancer Survivors Night Concert & Dance to benefit Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.

Denny Santangini, Delaware Celebration of Jazz president and producer of the Rehoboth jazz festival, is also the man behind the benefit.

He said all of the proceeds, even bar sales, will go toward a renovation of the Tunnell Cancer Center.

“It was an eye-opener for me to learn that people who have cancer here might have to go to another city to get treatment. We need that remodeling so people don’t have to go out of town,” Santangini said.

The Yacht Lobsters will be the headliners, bringing a mix of funk, classic rock and jazz.

The concert will take place on the eve of the 35th annual Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival opening night. However, Santangini said the benefit concert is not directly connected to the festival.

He said anybody who has been touched by cancer can help, even if they don’t make it to the show.

“Buy a $39 ticket and give it to a cancer survivor or a loved one,” Santangini said.

Tom Protack, Beebe Medical Foundation president, said he is excited by the opportunity to get support for Tunnell Cancer Center. He said money raised at the cancer survivors event will be used for a phased project over several years.

“We want local residents to participate in the fundraiser,” Protack said.”We are focused on the needs of our local cancer center. Denny is always looking for ways to support the community and Beebe.”

For more information, go to rehobothjazz.com.