16th annual event raised funds and awareness for local children battling cancer
The16th annual Red Corner Benefit in Oct. 18 in Douglassville raised funds and awareness for local children battling cancer.
"No one fights alone," benefit founder Tammy Roehrig said. "We are all community."
Drawing more than 4,000 attendees, this year's Red Corner Benefit is dedicated to 5-year-old Rylynn Graham of Trappe.
Rylynn was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 2024. After completing traditional treatment, Rylynn experienced a relapse in April. She is undergoing immunotherapy and localized proton radiation therapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Each year's theme reflects what the recipient likes.
Hannah Hivner's theme was music in 2016. Lexi Bailey, 2010, loved peace signs and butterflies. Piper Iria's theme was mermaids and underwater in 2024.
This year's theme was the Disney movie "Descendants." Dressed in red, Rylynn took the stage and danced to "Red" from "Descendants: The Rise of Red." Her favorite activity at the benefit was the Euro bungee bounce.
"We got good news the other day," said Andrea Graham, Rylynn's mother. "The treatment we've been going to New York for is working. It reduced her tumor by 62%."
"She's amazing. She is Rylynn," Graham said.
Roehrig and Kevin McColgan started the Red Corner Benefit in 2009.
While living in California, they attended an annual acoustic charity concert series, rock star Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit in San Francisco, founded in 1986 by Neil and Pegi Young inspired by their son Ben, who has cerebral palsy. When the Youngs couldn't find a school that offered both education and support for Ben's needs, they decided to create one.
Once they moved to Pennsylvania, Roehrig and McColgan created their own benefit.
Red Corner Benefit is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on supporting local children battling cancer. Each year, a new child is selected for support; past recipients include many local families.
"People don't realize these people, in the moment, need money," said Christine Williams, a 17-year Red Corner volunteer and board member. "Some families get divorced, some of them go bankrupt, and some lose their homes."
The event initially was a beef and beer fundraiser.
"I think our first time there were 100 people," Roehrig said. "It just slowly started to grow."
All of these families pay it forward every year, bringing more and more people.
"This is what generosity should be," said Ryan Brown, a Red Corner volunteer since 2020. "It's people actually coming together and actively participating in a great cause. The dedication of the 100 or so volunteers that help to build all this and run it every year, it just means the world to me."
The once simple event has expanded to a two-stage, 20-band event with 300 raffle items, a 50/50 drawing, food, drinks, pumpkin painting, games, a Euro bungee bounce, bonfires and a finale featuring a spectacular display by International Fireworks of Douglassville.
The bands volunteer their time.
Drew & the Blue, garage-kept rock 'n' roll band established in 2018 in Reading, performed on the Main Stage for the second year.
"We felt it was important for the obvious reason of helping to battle pediatric cancer," said Drew West of Drew & the Blue. "However it was the level of sincerity and effort of the organization and its volunteers that really impressed us. When you arrive at the RCB, you're in shock at the size of the event and the number of volunteers."
Everyone is in a great mood, and the staff are friendly and quick to help guests, bands or anyone in need, said West.
"These kind souls generate substantial funds and effect change in local neighborhoods. It's a perfect scenario to get patrons excited about raising money for a great cause," West said. "We're honored to share the stage with many great performers and we are thrilled for the opportunity to donate to a great cause."