Last year, Shannon Kiss lost her husband, Wayne Sawyer, in his sleep to sudden arrhythmia death syndrome (SADS). Wayne, an avid artist, had been Widespread Panic’s guitar tech for many years.
On Tuesday, June 1, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Climb to Conquer SADS event at Fox Bros. BBQ in Atlanta will help raise awareness and funds for this relatively unknown and deadly disease. Fox Bros BBQ will donate 15 percent of all food proceeds from that day and there will also be a silent auction. All monies go to the SADS Foundation, who will sponsor a mountain climber to ascend the summit of Mt. Ranier with a flag bearing the Sawyer name. He will leave the flag at the peak after giving Wayne a brief tribute, as will other climbers on behalf of other families affected.
Items for the Silent Auction (bids accepted on June 1 at Fox Bros. and online at climb4wayne@gmail.com) include a Fender Stratocaster signed by all the members of Widespread Panic, signed works by R.E.M. and Drive-By Truckers, rare photography licensed by bands (not normally for sale), and original artwork by Wayne Sawyer.
For more information visit www.firstgiving.com/waynesawyer or www.sads.org. You can also check out directions and more info about Fox Bros. at www.foxbrosbbq.com.
On behalf of the SADS Foundation, and the thousands of families we serve, I thank Shannon and her family for organizing this event, as well as Fox Bros BBQ for their generous donation. It is through raising awareness and funds for SADS that we *will* save lives. Please learn the warning signs of SADS at http://www.StopSADS.org and thank you again. 1-800-STOP SAD
what a great cause. hate for that too happen , it seems like in the past ten years there have been a some tragic deaths in the close knit PANIC family from Colin Vereens son, Mike Houser , to Wayne Sawyer. What an awesome way to put an honor in his name. LONG LIVE WIDESPREAD PANIC!!!