CONCERTS FOR CANCER #LOVE #HOPE #HEALING #BeachLife Festival
ConcertsForCancer-Logo.pngConcerts for Cancer Announces Music Heals Grant to 16-Year-Old Central Michigan Ewing Sarcoma Survivor
Partnership with BeachLife Festival makes dreams of a vacation to California to experience a Weezer and The
Smashing Pumpkins concert a reality
CHICAGO, May 7, 2022 – Two years after COVID-19 abruptly arrived on the scene, changing the world as we
knew it, and canceling all public events, Concerts for Cancer completes its most recent Music Heals Grant. The
grant was donated to Eliy Simmer, a Central Michigan 16-year-old who was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in
the Spring of 2020. Ewing sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that grows in bones or in the soft tissue around the
bones. It is most frequently found in children and young adults and can cause pain as bones
deteriorate. Throughout her 18-month treatment, Eliy would often turn to the music of her favorite bands for
inspiration and energy. Although Eliy loves many bands of different genres, some of her favorites are Billie
Eilish, Weezer and The Smashing Pumpkins. When asked what she was going to focus on after completing her
treatments, 16-year-old survivor Eliy said, “I’d like to enjoy precious time with my friends and family by
attending more live music experiences.”
“Concerts for Cancer’s mission is mission is to provide cancer fighters and their caregivers with a temporary
pause from the struggles and stresses by providing them with all-expense paid, VIP style travel and live music
experiences.,” said Christina Nardella, Co-Founder, Concerts for Cancer. “Thanks in part to the generous team at
BeachLife Festival, we were able to partner with Campaign One at A Time to give the Simmer family the gift of a
week in California including VIP passes to the BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach, to see Weezer, The Smashing
Pumpkins and many other awesome bands. This amazing weekend is part two of a two-part grant that also
included sending the family to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan to see Eliy’s other favorite artist, Billie
Eilish.”
“Music Heals Grants,” our most common grants, are customized VIP packages for cancer patients and their
caregivers at music events near them that hopefully takes their mind off the stress of their battle, if only for one
evening. These experience grants will be customized to the desires of each grantee but may include highlights
such as limo transportation, dinner, premium seating, merchandise, an on-site VIP experiences host, etc.
“BeachLife Festival is thrilled to play a part in fulfilling this dream for a fellow music lover,” said Tammy Saunt,
Director of Communications at the BeachLife Festival. “We believe in, and have experienced ourselves, the
healing power of music. We are honored to play a part in such a worthy cause, and we will do our best to
provide Eliy and her family with an unforgettable festival experience!”
“We are so grateful to be part of this experience for Eliy,” said Brodi Nicholas, Founder and CEO of Campaign
One at A Time. “Our organization was founded on the power and beauty of music, and we are so excited that
Eliy is going to be able to experience an event like this. We are so excited to be collaborating with Concerts for
Cancer and the BeachLife Festival to help make this dream a reality for Eliy.”
About Concerts for Cancer Concerts for Cancer is a 501c3 founded by cancer survivor, Chris Nardella, and her husband Jeremy Schultz after
her 650+ day battle with breast cancer. They realized just how much live music experiences provided their
family a distraction from the intense pressure and emotion of the cancer journey… and it was at that moment
that they connected with the idea of Concerts for Cancer. They realize that they have an opportunity, even a
duty to connect the skills, experiences, relationships, and resources they’ve built over the years to create
experiences that help other cancer fighters find these moments of pause and distraction from an otherwise
challenging and stressful journey.
Realizing that, especially in this post-Covid world, Consumers crave unique, yet intimate experiences and touring
musicians seek an alternate and supplemental form of revenue generation and brand development, The
Concerts for Cancer foundation creates unique experiences that enable touring bands to connect with their fans
while helping to raise funds for a cause that has touched so many people.
We believe in the spiritual and mental healing powers of music. All funds raised from events, donors and
sponsors will be used to fund our mission of providing cancer fighters and their caregivers with a temporary
pause from the struggles and stresses that face them along each step of their journey by providing them with
all-expense paid, VIP style travel and live music experiences. Because music can heal the wounds beyond
medicines reach.
Please visit www.concertsforcancer.org for more information on past grants, upcoming events, donations, and
sponsorship options.
About BeachLife Festival
BeachLife Festival debuted in 2019 and is Southern California’s premier multi-day live music, art, and culinary
experience, held on the beach in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. We were lucky enough to grow up in
Southern California on the beach, surfing, hanging out with sand between our toes, vibing with friends and living
the beach life. Our culture celebrates the power and the beauty of the ocean and coastal resources — our waves,
wind, smell of sea salt, beaches, sand, and wildlife that call this their home. BeachLife Festival features music acts
on four stages, DAOU SideStage high-end dining with well-known celebrity chefs, a silent auction benefiting
BeachLife’s primary charities, and multiple surf and skateboarding components. BeachLife Festival was cofounded by Allen Sanford and Rob Lissner, along with Brand Director and SpeakEasy Stage curator Jim Lindberg
(Pennywise / solo artist / author).
About Campaign One at a Time
Campaign One at A Time is a California based 501(c)3 nonprofit on a mission to ensure no child battling a severe
illness ever feels alone. By hosting fundraising campaigns on their website and social media platforms, Campaign
One at A Time is able to help fulfill the biggest dreams for children battling cancer and other life-threatening
illnesses across the country. Campaign One at A Time also provides resources for families, including, but not
limited to meals in the hospital, warrior boxes, and interactive events for children and their families.