Wes Scott Benefit

Rabun County Comes Together for Wes Scott

at Mountain City Playhouse October 15th

On October 15th, 2022, a benefit fundraiser will be held for Wes Scott at the Mountain City Playhouse. The event is hosted by Ooshie Life, owned by Mountain City Playhouse owner Suzie Flaherty. The event has been organized by a group of Wes’ friends who have seen his struggles and wanted to help. Wes moved to Rabun with his family, Father Harry and mother Shaleen Scott in 2001. He graduated from Rabun County High School in 2003. Wes went to work straight out of high school and in the next few years he married and started a family. He and his wife Leslie had plans like most young couples do. He has always been a hard worker and in 2019 he started his own company BDM Construction, doing remodel work and building small projects. Life was good and he had plenty of work. He liked staying busy but like most of us when the pandemic hit everything slowed down. He was fortunate to still have work, but then in 2021 Wes contracted Covid-19. Of course the virus went through the entire family but Wes just couldn’t shake it, the virus destroyed his lungs. He got Covid pneumonia and spent a few days in the hospital and was released on oxygen in August 2021, he would remain on oxygen for six months. When it would get to the point where it seemed impossible to breathe he would seek help. He was seen at a couple area hospitals and they noted that his white blood cell count was through the roof but no one investigated further. He ended up seeing a lung specialist in Gainesville who referred him to Oncology just to be sure there wasn’t something else going on. “Until this virus hit me, I had never had any health problems,” he told me recently. “I just needed answers to get better so I could get back to work and take care of my family.” The Oncologist diagnosed Wes Scott with Stage 1 Leukemia in April and he came off of the oxygen. “I was relieved to finally have an answer as to why I could not get over it. I was ready for an action plan to beat Leukemia,” Wes said. He suffered yet another bout of pneumonia and the cancer progressed. He has taken radiation medication and is on his second cycle of Chemotherapy. He is facing 3-4 more cycles of treatments at least. The Leukemia has progressed to stage 3. Doctors at Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Emory University Hospital are working together to save this young man’s life. He is a 37 year old husband and father to three children. He is a young man who has always made his own way. He has never really had to ask for help and it was hard to do. His friends could see the worry in his eyes and the burdens he was carrying and decided to organize a benefit to help this family. Of course if you know

Rabun County, then you know that people opened their hearts and have donated some incredible items to the benefit. There will be a silent auction set up at the benefit, with baskets and fit certificates and individual items donated by local businesses. There will be tickets sold for a flat bed load of firewood (delivered) and a ¼ cord pallet of kiln dried firewood. Also, tickets will be available for a dump truck load of gravel, a custom maple slab coffee table, a Stihl chainsaw (MS 170), a 50/50 raffle and a Bond Arms Grizzly .45 caliber pistol. We are also have 100 chances on a weeks stay in a condominium at St. Simons Island, Georgia. The vacation rental is booking into 2023 at this time and the stay is subject to availability. It is however a Saturday – Saturday rental for up to four people. These tickets are available for a $100 donation to the benefit.

All tickets are now available. If you are interested please contact Kim Jarrard at 706-490-0159. They have assembled quite an impressive list of musicians who will be on stage for live music all day (see box). There will be cakes included in the silent auction as well and hotdog plates will be served throughout the day (until they run out). For the kids, Suzie’s Tumbling studio will be open with entrance for a donation of any amount. Face painting will also be available. We invite you to come out and join in a day of family fun to help a family in need. Please help spread the word. Bring your family and bid on some wonderful items, buy your tickets and listen the music. It is impossible to include a thank you to everyone who has generously donated, but we will. For now we say thank you!! If you would like to donate a silent auction item contact Tammy Jones at 706-9824797 or to make a cash donation, please do so at Rabun County Bank either by stopping by or you can mail your check to the bank made to Wes Scott Benefit - Rabun County Bank PO Box 845. Clayton, Georgia 30525. You may also donate through the Venmo app @Kim-Jarrard-1 and all proceeds from every donation goes to Wes Scott.