Cancer Society, family gets funds from benefit concert

The show is being organized in the memory of Antonio Yeager.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Ten alternative rock bands will perform in a benefit concert Saturday to aid the Mercer County Unit of the American Cancer Society and the family of a cancer victim.
The concert, slated for the city's Chestnut Street parking lot from 2 p.m. to midnight, was organized in memory of Antonio "Tonio" Yeager, 15, of Hermitage, who died of a brain tumor May 18.
Joe Shipton of Sharon, who runs a medical practice management company in Mercer, is coordinating the event, along with Robert Multari of West Middlesex. Multari is a cousin of Tonio Yeager.
Multari said his young cousin was first diagnosed with a tumor at the age of 9 and underwent numerous medical and surgical procedures to combat the disease. His most recent surgery was Jan. 2 in Pittsburgh.
About Tonio
Tonio was a freshman at Farrell High School where he excelled in academics and was a member of the Quest program for gifted students and the Spanish Club. He was also a talented artist, Multari said, and loved to play video games.
Tonio was also a major fan of the teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and collected the action figures, Multari said.
Shipton said he's arranged an array of rock bands from the local area as well as from Erie and Toledo to perform their original work in 45-minute sets.
The parking lot will be fenced off, and ticket are $8 in advance or $10 at the gate.
Advance tickets are available at a variety of outlets including Hubbard Music in Hubbard, Marks Music in Hermitage, the Disc Junkie in Hermitage and the Chestnut Street Cafe in Sharon.
Shipton said he's raised all but $500 of the estimated $2,500 cost of the show and expects to have the rest of the money in hand before the show date so that all proceeds will be split between the American Cancer Society and Tonio's family to help defray some of the medical costs incurred during his illness.
He's hoping the show draws 1,000 spectators.
Rock 104
Radio's Rock 104 has made this an official Rock 104 event and some of the station's employees will serve as emcees for the show, Shipton said.
The station is also donating radio ads to promote the cause, he said.
Via Sahara, a band from Youngstown, will be the headliner and perform at 11 p.m.
Shipton said his band, Drift, will perform as will Multari's group, Crimson Dawn.
Tonio's mother, Toni, will visit the concert to publicly thank the participants and organizers as well as those who turn out for the show, Shipton said.
It will be staged on two flatbed trucks parked in the lot. The city is cooperating with the lot closing, he said.
In addition to raising money, the concert is designed to help galvanize the local music scene, Shipton said, noting that it is fragmented now by municipality.
Sponsors for the concert are: Shenango Valley Online, Daffin's Candies, The Gold Mine, Erme's Distributing, Western-Southern Life Insurance, CCL Container, M & amp;M Beer Beverage, D & amp;G Heating and Cooling, The Tattoo Emporium, Hudson Construction, Victor Printing and Tony Combine construction.