'Awesome' benefit


Katie Dolac
Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 26, 2007


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Krush drummer Carly Schuler smiles at "crowd surfers" in front of the stage at Saturday's Rock Fest 2007, a benefit for Lee Linthicum, a Culpeper man with Lou Gehrig's Disease.(Staff Photo, Katie Dolac)



When the music ended and the stage lights left everyone in darkness at Saturday’s Rock Fest, Lee Linthicum sat in his motorized wheelchair, sunburned and grinning.

He pounded his chest with an open hand.

“Awesome,” he said.

An estimated 300 people attended the all-day festival on the rolling fields at Culpeper Agricultural Enterprises.

The most ambitious music project in recent Culpeper history resembled a miniature Nissan Pavilion, with an amphitheatre set up, a sweaty, charismatic crowd and vendors under colorful tents.

The benefit show featured nearly 15 bands and raised more than $7,000 for Linthicum, a Culpeper man facing mounting medical bills since his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The malady, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease, slowly disables voluntary muscle movement.

At least $4,000 was raised that the front gate alone, said Vicki Linthicum, Lee’s wife.

During all-girl group Krush’s encore performance, Lee Linthicum’s brother, Ray Linthicum, approached the microphone to deliver a message from Lee, who sat watching just yards away in his grayish “Half Full” T-shirt and a Washington Redskins hat.

He read from a piece of paper Lee prepared, thanking concert organizers, bands and all who donated. Then Ray paused, noticeably choked up. He attempted to continue, but his voice cracked. After several minutes, he was able to finish.

“A year ago, I would have walked up myself,” it read. “But I can’t today because the disease has robbed me of that ability.”

Sweaty, sunburned teens perched on cement barriers in front of the stage area - made from two tractor-trailer beds - applauded.

“After working every day from June 10 to Sept. 22 on this event, everyone finally came together,” one of the concert organizers Jackie Cullen said via e-mail. “Despite the heat, the benefit was a success. The bands were wonderful playing in all that heat.”

Krush finished its set before Fairfax’s NUMA had the crowd jumping and head banging into the night. Sterling Park’s Rude Buddha followed and Rappahannock’s Rude Rock Family finished with a song for Lee: Tom Petty’s “American Girl.”

Katie Dolac can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 138 or kdolac@ starexponent.com.

Want to give?
A foundation account is being created for Lee Linthicum, who is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Keep reading the Star-Exponent for details on how to donate.

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