Friday July 24, 2009

Clemson Cares

Clemson Cares
Please forgive me for the blog over the last two days but the community here is Clemson had a more important issue. Fridays are usually the days we do our e-mail bag but I wanted to take today to go a different route. I wanted to tell a story to help remind us of how much people care and in this case how much Clemson people care.

Clemson’s strength and conditioning coach Joey Batson and his wife Susan had a friend in need. Their friend, Joey Melton, had been laid off and will be rehired when his company gets back its feet but times were difficult financially for the Meltons.

The Melton’s have five kids and their 11-year old son, Drayton, had to be taken to the emergency room in Easley Monday night. They were shocked to find out Drayton’s liver was failing so was rushed to MUSC in Charleston. Drayton was put on a waiting list for a new liver. He benefitted from a miracle as he was a match from a donor and his life was spared. A 12 hour surgical procedure took only seven hours and most of the signs were good.

The Meltons need help. They have had an incredibly difficult time financially and have no health insurance. Clemson grad and resident Stacey Fowler called the radio show Wednesday morning and people began responding. The Town Hall in Central took donations from locals all day. Stacey and Susan set up an account at BB&T where people could donate.

Clemson graduate Herb Tyler of Chic-fil-a in Seneca and Clemson had us in for a grand opening remote at the new restaurant in Clemson and people poured in to donate.

Another Clemson graduate, Jon Christensen got involved and donated a Willie Mays signed baseball, a Willie McCovey signed jersey, a Stan Musial signed jersey, a Derek Jeter signed bat and a Joe Dimaggio singed baseball to be auctioned for the cause.

Others quickly donated. Golf professionals, Taylor Made golf, Tiger Town Graphics and many other companies got involved. Clemson fans who stood in line for hours for the C.J. Spiller posters 24 hours before gave their posters up for auction.

Clemson fan and Sporting News Radio’s David Stein came into town and did his show on campus and he donated a dinner with him.

Clemson graduate Col. Alton Whitley, a military hero who flew two tours in Vietnam and later helped develop the F-117 Stealth donated a signed model of the aircraft which was auctioned off to Bill Harder, former Clemson basketball player.

The Clemson coaching staff in several sports gave money.

Clemson grads and fans were among the bidders and winners of the items that helped the cause. For example, Clemson football letterman Richard Cassidy paid $500 for a Spiller poster. Clemson graduate Bozzie Boggs paid $500 for the Derek Jeter bat. Clemson graduate Brad Hugehs gave $100 for a ball signed by former Clemson player Tyler Colvin because Brad is a fan of the Cubs.

A Clemson fan in Philadelphia named Rob Steigerwald paid $1,000 for the Willie Mays signed baseball because he and his son share the love for the game and perhaps its greatest player.

So many others gave and I wish I could tell each story.

This is a Clemson blog and I wanted to give an idea of the Clemson side of things but Gamecocks and Tigers gave and gave and gave. At the Central Town Hall, Gamecocks and Tigers gave a total of $4,693.21.

Chic-fil-a in Seneca raised $685.00 Wednesday afternoon.

In Charleston, a sports talk radio station raised $4,500 Wednesday afternoon.

During the six hour radio remote in Clemson, listeners dropped by and gave $3,591.87.

The auction items raised $6,725.00.

In 24 hours, $20,195.08 was raised and that does not count anyone giving directly to the BB&T account at any of their branches.

David Stein made a great point that our society is addicted to negative news. We watch it, read it and listen to it every day. Cynics rule and negative people can drag down the masses. But every once in a while we get a great reminder that good people are out there in greater numbers.

Yesterday gave the Meltons a little bit of hope but we got much more than they did. We got renewed hope. We got a lot more than we gave.

The best news of all is that Drayton is doing very well. His profile numbers are good. He is aware and fighting. They face a long battle but they will not face it alone. People care about their family. Clemson people care. It was inspiring to witness that again.

You can still give to the Drayton Melton Fund at any BB&T branch. We have paypal account set up if you don’t live near a branch. But most of all the Meltons need your prayers.

Thanks for everyone that participated and continue to support their family.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Mrs. Kathleen Bowers, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton.