By Raven Van Pelt

The benefit at Knucklehead’s Tavern off of Highway 17 in Yulee. Started with a poker run @ 11am, $15 per bike & $5 per rider. The ride went from Knuckleheads to Hammerheads (Fernandina Beach) to Bar Z (beside the Ferry off Heckscher Dr.) to Fast Freddy’s on Main St. (Jax) and back to Knuckleheads! Everyone participating in the poker run received a free dinner plate! Dinner plates were sold for $8 and they included BBQ Chicken and 2 sides.

Several bands played, there were raffle prizes and an auction. This event was for Howard Word, a loving father of 4, and grandfather to a newborn grandson. He has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver Cirrhosis and Stage 1 Bladder Cancer. His oldest son Colby Word (BlackJack Band), with the help of many others, set up this benefit May 14th from 2pm-close in order to raise money to cover his medical costs, travel and lodging for out of town doctors’ appointments and his liver transplant. He has been bed-ridden for over a year, and his wife is left to take care of him and their 5-year-old son. He has always been active in the community, coaching many years of football, baseball, and softball for kids and has always been a hard worker. It kills him to ask for help, but we know everyone needs it from time to time! ALL donations of any kind went to him.

The family would like to thank, Wayne and Rhonda McCormick the owners of Knuckleheads, and all those who have donated their time and raffle prizes, as well as, the many bands who played for this event.