River Rally features Red Marlow
- By Sherhonda Allen City Editor
- Updated
FLORENCE — When Peggy McCollum’s son, Adam, was in a car accident in 2002, it was a two-year fight for her family to help him recover.
St. Jude Children’s Hospital was there, as were her extended family, friends and church.
That’s why, McCollum and a group of friends decided to raise money for St. Jude, which subsists on donations, yet never denies treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
That year, they coordinated the event, Rally at the River, which was Saturday in McFarland Park. In 16 years, she said the event has raised an impressive $220,000 for St. Jude.
It was a day where people brought their lawn chairs to sit under the ample shade and enjoy one musical act after another, featuring Outer Limits Band, Erik Smallwood, Travis Wammack & the Snakeman Band with special guest Wayne Chaney, Deja Vu, Hannah+Karly, Blind the Sky, Justus Storm Band, Dixie Mafia, and Johnny Collier & the Misbehaviators.
She gets such a good musical lineup “by begging,” she said laughing.
“They’re all good bands … all local,” she said.
Rounding out the night was Red Marlow, a native of Rogersville who finished in the Top 4 on NBC’s “The Voice” last season.
McCollum said last year’s event raised $22,000 for St. Jude and she was hopeful to reach a $25,000 goal
his year.
“If we do $25,000, we’ll be good,” she said. “The crowd looks bigger this year.”
Missing from the event is McCollum’s son, Josh, who was killed in a car crash just two weeks before the event. McCollum said Josh was her “motorcycle counter” meaning he would get a count on how many motorcyclists attended the fundraising event. Her sister, too, also recently died.
But she carries on, saying simply, “This means a lot to me.”