Music Fights Cancer

Rock For Ryann is a benefit concert going on Thursday, February 20, 8 pm at La Maison.

It was last December when former nurse, Ryann O’Byrne, broke the news to her three children that she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer – sending shock waves throughout her family and friends.

“Our family was caught completely off guard” said Ryann’s daughter, Raven O’Byrne, “We’re a really close family…it was definitely hard”.

And to make matters worse the financial pressures of the cancer treatment expenses were soon to follow.

Needless to say, things were looking dark.

Above: Ryann O’Byrne. To donate for her cancer treatments click here.

But that’s when Raven came up with a solution: Rock For Ryann – a benefit concert at La Maison (Thursday, February 20, 8pm) to raise money for her mother’s cancer treatments.

“A few years ago a friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer. Her workplace put together a benefit to raise money for her so it got me thinking. I have multiple friends in bands…why not see if I can pull together a benefit show for her to raise money to help with costs?”.

From left to right, Kylee LeClair, Tayla LeBlanc, and Raven O’byrne.

“Raven is my best friend and when she brought up to me she had an idea on how to raise money for her mom I was 100% thinking the same thing” said Tayla Leblanc, singer in acoustic rock band Castles, and co-organizer of the event. “It’s a team effort”.

Together the two started reaching out to local bands and in short time the response was overwhelming.

Mena Hardy, The Brain Stews, Don’t Tell Sarah and many more acts jumped at the opportunity to help out.

“I can’t even express the feeling of the community coming together to help my mom” remarked Raven “She is such a loved woman and with everyone coming together to help her, it really shows how much of an impact she has made on so many people. It’s amazing”.

Rock For Ryann will also include a 50/50 draw and a silent auction featuring restaurant and hair salon gift cards, gift baskets from Scentsy and much more.

“My mom has always been such an inspiration to me. We’re alike in many ways and I look up to her with everything I do artistically. I wouldn’t be the artist I am today if it weren’t for her. She’s my person, you know, my mum”.

For more information on Rock For Ryann, click on the event page here.