Concert aims to help woman
Family has long history of music – and cancer
Country musicians will hold a benefit concert today in Post Falls for an uninsured Spokane Valley woman who has breast cancer.
The benefit for Kimmie McComb starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at The Slab Inn in Post Falls. Doors open at 1 p.m. Among the bands scheduled to perform are: Crossfire, Steve Starkey Band, Ryan Larsen Band and Shayne Edwards and Dark Horse.
The McComb family has a long history in the region’s country music scene. McComb’s father, Bob McComb, plays with Crossfire and has been performing with country bands in these parts for years. Her brother is Nashville recording artist Jeremy McComb, and her boyfriend, Steve Starkey, heads the band by the same name.
“It’s amazing how many people are supportive when things happen,” Kimmie McComb said. “You don’t realize how many friends you have.”
The 30-year-old woman found out in February that her sister had breast cancer; doctors advised her to be tested as well. She since has learned her family is genetically predisposed to breast cancer on her father’s side. Kimmie McComb said she plans to have a double mastectomy and to have her ovaries removed.
“It’s just being preventative,” she said. “They say it’s not ‘if,’ it’s ‘when,’ when it’s hormonal and you carry the gene. I just want people to be aware of how it can happen.”
Though she has received assistance from Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services and from Cancer Patient Care, she has been too sick from chemotherapy to work. She said she’s thankful for the assistance of family and friends.
Tammy Brady, who helped organize the benefit concert, said a long list of businesses has donated items for a silent auction and raffle. The items include a plane ride over Grand Coulee and dinner for two, a three-carat blue topaz, tickets to the Spokane Indians and Silverwood Theme Park, and gift certificates for everything from pizza to carpet cleaning.
“It’s been a tough road,” Brady said. “The musicians have rallied together and are trying to raise money so it’s not so hard on her.”