Former Cancer Patient Has Performed at Every ‘Rock the ’80s’ Benefit Concert

STATE COLLEGE — When singer Cori Donaghy takes the stage with her band at the 12th annual Rock the ’80s show on Feb. 24, it will be her 12th time performing at the concert that benefits cancer patients through the Bob Perks Fund. It’s her way of giving back to the organization that helped her family when she was a cancer patient herself 13 years ago.

Donaghy was diagnosed with Stage 4 mantle cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2011. At the time, she had just given birth to her third child, and she did not have health insurance, so financial concerns added to an already stressful and scary time. When a patient navigator at Penn State Hershey told Donaghy and her husband about the Bob Perks Fund, it soon became an important resource for the family.

“The Bob Perks Fund helped us cover life expenses so that we could reallocate personal funds toward medical needs. They helped us with utilities, and we received gas cards. … When you’re driving around all over the place to appointments, what seems like a little, insignificant thing is actually huge. It’s way bigger of a deal when you’re in that situation than it seems from the outside,” she said.

When Rock the ’80s was conceived in 2013, Donaghy had recently finished her cancer treatments, and she knew she had to be a part of the event.

“It felt like something totally within my ability as a way to give back my time and talent to the Bob Perks Fund,” Donaghy said.

The Bob Perks Fund allows patients to apply for grants to help with basic living expenses every 90 days while undergoing treatment. As of Feb. 1, 90-day grant limits have been raised from $750 to $1,000, with a lifetime award limit of $5,000, according to Cindy Ruble Brown, executive director.

Last year, the Fund approved 424 applications and allocated over $275,000 to help cancer patients in Centre County and the surrounding area.

“It was a history-making year for us, and we were so pleased to be able to do that,” Brown said, stressing that this would not be possible without the money raised through their two annual signature events: Rock the ’80s, and A Night at the Races, which is held in May.

“We live in the most generous community in the world,” she said. “We’re also blessed to have so many great community partners. It takes a village.”

Brown expects this year’s Rock the ’80s concert to sell out, as it did last year, and the organization has set a goal of raising $30,000 through the event.

Eight bands are lined up to perform on Feb. 24, including Donaghy’s current band, Genuine Red and the Issues, which she formed specifically for this event. In the past, Donaghy has performed with her husband, Patrick, as part of the duo Screwdriver Sally, as well as with Boxing Oscars and Cousin Neddie.

Other bands on the bill include Anchor & Arrow, Collapse, Crush, JR Mangan Band, Kevin Briggs Blues Experience, The Extractors and The Long Afternoon.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in ’80s attire, and there will be costume contests for best individual and best group or couple, with prizes of gift cards for local restaurants.

The show will begin at 7 p.m. at the State Theatre, and tickets are $40 each. A $60 ticket includes the Totally Rad Reception pre-party, to be held at the Kish Expect More Store at 114 S. Allen St. from 5 to 6:30 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased online at thestatetheatre.org.

“It’s just a great event, and it’s so much fun,” Donaghy said. “I think all of the musicians realize the magnitude of what the event provides — that they’re making a difference and helping the Bob Perks Fund really help their constituents.”