On Friday, Jan. 27, Elizabethtown College’s student-run Education Organization (EdOrg) hosted a benefit concert in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. The benefit concert was meant to raise funds for the A-T Children’s Project, which is an organization focused on providing support for people with Ataxia-telangiectasia.
“The EdOrg cabinet is ecstatic to bring back this event for the first time since the pandemic,” senior elementary/middle education major and EdOrg President Ingrid Peura said. “Melica, Vocalign, Phalanx, Mad Cow, ECDT [Elizabethtown College Dance Team], EMotion and the Etown Theatre Department clubs are ready to perform to make an impact on the A-T community by raising money for the A-T Children’s Project.”
A-T is considered a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks a number of different body systems. The early telltale signs of A-T appear early in childhood when someone is a toddler and is beginning to walk on their own. Though the toddlers appear to start walking at the same time as their peers, they tend to wobble or sway when walking, standing or sitting. A-T progresses in late-preschool and early school age, as children with A-T start developing difficulty with moving their eyes in a natural manner from one place to another, slurred and distorted speech and swallowing problems.
The A-T Children’s project not only supports people with A-T by providing resources but also is trying to find a cure and other treatments for the disease. Cures that decrease the loss of muscle control, help the immune system and lower the likelihood of getting cancer would be life-changing for many people with A-T.
The concert featured music and dance performances by different student organizations, such as Vocalign and ECDT and other performance clubs, such as Mad Cow and Etown Theatre.
“I came to see the performance but also to raise money for this important issue,” sophomore early and special education major Alexis Girard said. “I was most excited to see ECDT, Melica and Vocalign, especially ‘Late Night Talking’ by Harry Styles.”
There were two sets of performances with an intermission in between. Sprinkled within the performances, videos and stories of the many families affected by A-T reminded the attendees that by being there, they were playing a part in moving the needle towards a cure and treatments for people with A-T.
“I’m excited to see the performances tonight, especially Mad Cow, and I’m also a club officer at the Etown Council for Exceptional Children, which is collaborating with EdOrg tonight,” sophomore early and special education major Megan Cramer said. “I am an education major and felt that it was important for me to come out and support EdOrg’s A-T benefit concert tonight.”
There was a lot of support from education majors and people that are a part of EdOrg, as this was a meaningful event for the club after having to hold off benefit concerts in recent years due to the pandemic. Everyone was glad that they were able to experience this event while contributing intentionally to an important issue.
“I wanted to support the charity and watch all my friends perform,” senior international business major Belle Brodbeck said when asked why they decided to show up to the benefit concert. “I am most looking forward to the Emotion, Vocalign and Melica performances.”
The concert also featured prizes and people who attended were entered into a raffle basket to win various awards. Attendees were also able to win EdOrg merchandise. All proceedings from the concert will go toward supporting A-T Children’s Project.
“I really love everyone performing, but I specifically came to see Vocalign perform today,” sophomore music therapy major Tara Peron said. “I could not wait for the song ‘Late Night Talking’ because I heard that the soloist is amazing.”
To learn more about A-T Children Project and for more resources about A-T, visit: https://www.atcp.org
