Bands bash to raise awareness of Williams syndrome
Seeing dozens of musicians perform and dozens more watching and listening to them Sunday, Aug. 27, at Butler Memorial Park made Abigail Wilson tear up a bit, because most of the people there never hear of the disease they were supporting research for.
Wilson’s 1-year-old daughter, Isabelle Oesterling, has Williams syndrome, a developmental disorder that affects much of the body, including the heart and cardiovascular system, and Sunday was a music fest raising money for people with the disease.
Attendance for the event surpassed Wilson’s expectations just a few hours into the all-day festival.
“It’s kind of amazing,” Wilson said. “I can’t believe it.”
The DirtyRamen Skate Shop Williams Syndrome Bash invited bands from Butler County and beyond to perform to raise money for Williams syndrome research and patients, and just raise awareness of the disease.
Everett Foster, one of the organizers of the event, played in three of the 10 bands scheduled to perform Sunday, and said the event came together well.
“It’s kind of surreal,” Foster said. “All the bands are doing awesome.”
Wilson said that she has learned a lot about Williams syndrome in just a few months, thanks to a clinic in Columbus, Ohio, which has helped her find other parents of children diagnosed with the disorder. She said the disorder appears in one in 10,000 births a year, worldwide, but there is still much to learn about how it affects people.
Foster also said the idea for the music festival fundraiser came from Isabelle herself, who enjoys when he plays music around her.
“A lot of the children diagnosed with Williams syndrome have a tendency to really succeed in music,” Foster said. “So that started the cool idea to have a concert in honor of Williams syndrome.”
In addition to donations, the festival had a number of vendor baskets being raffled, a silent auction and 50/50.
Wilson said a number of local businesses and bands donated merchandise for the raffle.
“We had a lot of friends and family make them, and a lot of vendors here,” Wilson said. “Bands would donate something, shirts; stickers, and we were going to have a band basket.”
Foster and Wilson said the early success of the band bash could make it an annual event.
“The turnout is more than what me and Abby thought it might be,” Foster said. “Someone said if we do this next year let them know, and we have started thinking about it.”
