On December 14, 2007, Judi Perry Hartridge passed away at the age of 45 after a year-long battle with cancer.  Judi left behind her husband of 20 years and their five-year-old son.  To honor Judi’s memory, family and friends formed a committee called “Judi H. Rock On” to raise funds to fight the disease that claimed her life.

Since Judi was a life-long resident of Dunmore, it was decided that all proceeds raised by the committee’s efforts would be donated to the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, a community organization dedicated to easing the burden of cancer in our region through hospital and practice support services, surveillance and community and patient services.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and friends, over the past four years Judi H. Rock On has raised over $180,000, which includes matching funds in support of local cancer services.

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The committee will host, Judi H. Rock On 5, a dance party and raffle from  5-10 p.m. on September 27 at the St. Mary’s Center in Scranton. The event will feature live music from three legendary bands: Paul LaBelle and the Exact Change, Old Friends, and the Gene Dempsey Orchestra, along with singer/songwriters Janice Gambo Chesna and Tony Vergnetti.

Jim “Bucky” Buckley will be honored at the event as the recipient of the third Music Lifetime Achievement Award. The ticket price of $25 includes a night of fantastic music and refreshments as well as entry into a raffle. Raffle prizes include a Mount Airy one night stay with tickets to see “The Stylistics” concert and a gift card for dinner, an Apple iPad, and a one-year gym membership. A cash bar will also be available at the event.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Cancer Institute at (1-800) 424-6724 or by visitingwww.judihrockon.com.  Tickets can also be purchased at the door the day of the event.

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The Judi H. Memorial Fund is a grass roots music industry organization whose objective is to raise awareness and detection as well as donate 100% of raffle sales to funding and supporting research into women’s cancers. It applies the significant but voluntary resources of music industry partners and friends.

The organization supports research into prevention, detection and early characterization of cancer “hot spots” in Northeast Pennsylvania and surrounding regions, in memory of the beloved Judi H., whose warm and kind presence was simply too brief.