Coast West Nile Virus Victim Needs Help

Some Help is Needed for a Coast Survivor of the West Nile Virus

by Keith Burton

If you have followed health news in the media you are surely aware that the Mississippi Department of Health routinely issues reports about people contracting the rare disease, which is spread by mosquitoes. In 2007, one of that year's 136 victims was a Coast man that was well known among area musicians. Dave Roof has long been the guy area musicians turned to for instrument repairs.

He was found on Labor Day last year by a neighbor slumped over his riding lawn mower. After a week in ICU at at the hospital, the test results came back as WNV. He is still in rehabilitation. The virus left his shoulder and arm muscles severely weakened and he has great difficulty using them. Dave is not young or old, just 50, and was not even in bad health. His friends are hoping for a full recovery since he became ill.

Dave has worked in the Biloxi Mississippi Music’s musical instrument repair shop for over 25 years. He has likely repaired an instrument for anyone attending any gulf coast school during this time. Dave needs help now. A concert picnic fund raiser has been scheduled for May 18th at Hiller Park in Biloxi. The details follow:

DAY FOR DAVE

DAVE ROOF has been in musical instrument repairs at MISSISSIPPI

MUSIC in Biloxi for over 25 years. Dave is also a West Nile Virus SURVIVOR! A benefit for Dave will be held on

SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2008

HILLER PARK PAVILION

BILOXI, MS

2:00 – 6:00 PM

HOT DOG MEAL WITH CHIPS, DESSERT AND TEA

$5.00 DONATION

INCLUDES

· FREE CONCERT FEATURING LOCAL ARTIST

· RAFFLES

Entertainment Schedule

Bob Moody (keyboard entertainer performs locally at the Beau Rivage and at the Silver Slipper) – 2:00 – 2:45 PM

“Legend” (local band consisting of Kyle Illing, Mike Mizell, George Paine, Mike Reynolds, and Mitchell Bierschenk) – 3:00 – 3:45 PM

Thomas Edwards (single solo guitar artist who has been performing on the coast since 1978) – 4:00 – 4:45 PM

The Biloxi High Alumni Band – 5:00 – 5:45 PM

SPONSORED BY MISSISSIPPI MUSIC, INC. EMPLOYEES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS

From Hwy 49 South and I-10 Gulfport

I-10 East toward BILOXI/MOBILE to CEDAR LAKE exit
Right onto CEDAR LAKE RD, through light at Home Depot, turn right at next light, POPPS FERRY RD.
Stay on POPPS FERRY RD, cross over Popps Ferry draw bridge. At light (Old Bay Road/ATKINSON RD) turn left onto ATKINSON
Go through two 4-way stops, continue straight on ATKINSON and you will go directly into HILLER PARK.
Continue through to far east side of park. At 3-way stop (HILLER DR. and ATKINSON) turn left. This one way will take you to the PAVILION

From Veterans Blvd. and Pass Road, Biloxi

· West on PASS RD at VETERANS BLVD. light

· Go through light (Van Buren) to the next right, this is HILLER DR.

There will be a sign indicating HILLER PARK. Follow HILLER DR. to the 4-way stop. This is the entrance to the park.

Stay on HILLER DR through park passing the tennis court and playground. At the 3-way stop HILLER DR. becomes one-way to the PAVILION.

ADVANCE TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT

MISSISSIPPI MUSIC, Inc., LOCATIONS

AT THE EVENT

*BRING LAWN CHAIRS AND APPETITE

Call 228-388-6547, Biloxi Mississippi Music, for further information.