ASHVILLE - To honor the life of a young man who was taken by a sudden case of brain cancer, the friends and family of Brian "Snowy" Snow will gather at the Ashville Fireman's Training Grounds on Sunday for a benefit event.
Snow died July 6, just weeks after he went to the hospital seeking care for an extremely painful headache.
"He went to the hospital and they rushed him to Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital in Buffalo," said Snow's friend Tina Hetrick. "Then he was taken to Roswell to learn he had stage 4 melanoma which led to brain cancer. Six weeks later, he was gone. And until that first day he had a headache, he didn't even know he was sick."
Snow was only 36 years old and is survived by his wife Stephanie and their children, 5-year-old Samantha and 3-year-old Cameron. To help Snow's family with the next stage of their life, Ms. Hetrick and other friends organized a benefit which will take place this Sunday.
"We were actually planning it when Brian was still alive as a way to help with the medical expenses," Ms. Hetrick said. "And now that Brian is gone, we are hoping this will give his family a chance to celebrate his life."
Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Ashville Firemen's Training Grounds, there will be bands and a Chinese auction, and attendees will even have a chance to win a new car courtesy of Kia of Jamestown.
Ms. Hetrick said that there will be a dice roll to win the car and only 300 tickets will be sold to take a chance at it. In the auction, there are hundreds of items and gift baskets courtesy of many people and retailers across the region.
"We really had a lot of support from the community," she said. "It is unbelievable how many people donated something. B&L Wholesale is where Brian worked and they have been absolutely wonderful to Stephanie and the kids."
Starting at 1:30 p.m., the bands will take the stage with Lake Effect, Total Chaos and Synergy performing. Food and drinks will be provided and there will be a car show across the street from 4 to 7 p.m.
"Brian was a hard-working family man and a great father," Ms. Hetrick said. "You could always count on him and he would do anything for anyone. He really was a great man."
Tickets are $10 for adults and $3 for children. They are available at the door or in advance by calling Ms. Hetrick at 450-2217.
There is also an ongoing recycled can drive and donations can be dropped off at Don's Car Wash in Lakewood, where you tell the attendant they are for Snowy.
Those wishing to donate to the family who can't attend the benefit can make a memorial to the Brian Snow Fund, c/o Jamestown Savings Bank, 319 W. Third St., Jamestown, NY 14701.
