Blackberry Smoke Donate $30K to Childhood Cancer Non-Profits and Research

Blackberry Smoke have given back this holiday season to Cure Childhood Cancer and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. In what has become an annual tradition, the band performed a sold-out show at Atlanta's Tabernacle and donated $15,000 to both organizations.

The $30,000 was raised through the sale of Blackberry Smoke VIP Meet & Greet packages at each of their shows this year. The annual fundraiser has amassed over $130,000 for children's cancer non-profits and research within the past three years.

According to a press release, the band's fundraising began when drummer Brit Turner's 3-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. She has since recovered and is a happy and healthy 8-year-old.

"Children do not deserve cancer," Turner says. "The doctors and nurses helped save my daughter’s life when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. We were told there was very little chance for survival. The least we can do is to raise money for research and support for childhood cancer patients and their families."

Both the Cure Childhood Cancer and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital expressed their appreciation for Blackberry Smoke's thoughtful donations.

"We are so moved and appreciative to receive these funds from such a fantastic rock band which understands the crisis of childhood cancer after traveling the journey with the Turner family," says Kristin Connor, Executive Director of Cure Childhood Cancer, in a press release. "It means so much that Blackberry Smoke shares our mission to eradicate pediatric cancer in our lifetime."

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