Post #650795 by tikiyaki on Tue, Sep 4, 2012 9:32 PM

Tickets AVAILABLE NOW AT : http://tikiyakiorchestra.com/

NOV 17th - The TIKIYAKI ORCHESTRA presents ED-A-THON, a benefit for "Steady Eddie Cleland"
Starring THE TIKIYAKI ORCHESTRA plus special guest TONY MARSICO (of the Martini Kings) and Friends/

ART AUCTION AND RAFFLE

Don The Beachcomber
16278 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
(562) 592-1321

Doors open at 6:30 Show starts at 8:00 pm

Aloha Tikiyaki Ohana....

Our beloved drummer "Steady Eddie" Cleland underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor. This was his second operation. The first one was in 2007, performed by world renown brain surgeon Dr Keith Black. It was a large tumor located in a difficult to reach spot, thus requiring the best of the best to remove it.
The surgery resulted in a loss of motor skills on his right side. Miraculously, with the physical therapy, Eventually, Ed regained his motor skills, and , oddly enough, him playing drums helped accelerate the process of recovery. It was at this time that The Tikiyaki Orchestra contacted Ed about being our drummer.

Unfortnately, he was not yet ready, but when we needed a substitute for our drummer for our 2008 New years Eve show at Kona (now Don's)
Eddie was up to the task. He subbed a few more times before becoming a permanent band member in 2009.

Eddie underwent MRI's and other test monthly to monitor the situation, and this past Spring, another very small tumor was detected.Dr Black wanted to act fast and remove it before it grew any larger.So, Eddie underwent another surgery in June. This time, the surgery was more routine, and Eddie was in and out of the hospital in 3 days, however, the tumor mass was discovered as cancerous, so 6 weeks of subsequent radiation was required to make sure any remaining living cancer cells were destroyed.
In the meanwhile, Eddie only missed 2 rehearsals with the band, and was out again and playing with us and his other bands (Loose Chains and Sitcom Neighbor) in no time, as well as with Tikiyaki at Tiki Oasis this past August.

What all of this adds up to is this. Large Medical bills. 6 weeks of radiation , EVERY DAY, plus other tests (some covered by insurance, some not) , as well as the operation, which is not covered by insurance....

So, in the true ohana spirit, we're donating ALL the proceeds from this show to Eddie and his wife Stephi to help with their medical bills.

**CALLING ALL ARTISTS and TIKI VENDORS **

We're asking for help as well, in the form of an art donation for a silent auction, as well as raffle donations to help raise money for the cause.

The theme here is "BRAINS", so if you'd like to do a specific art piece for this event, something with "Brains, Brain surgery etc.... in it would be fun. Of course, we'll be playing up the theme as well. Any donations are welcome, be it a tiki mug, or some other item, anything will help to go towards raffle prizes.

So, we hope everyone will be able to make it out to this event, and celebrate Steady Eddie's amazing journey, and help him pay those medical bills.
If any of you have ever had the good fortune to meet Eddie personally, I'm sure you know what a great guy he is, and a damn fine drummer as well.

I will post when the tickets are going on sale, as soon as the ticketing is set up.

Mahalo, and we look forward to seeing you this special event.

Tikiyaki

[ Edited by: tikiyaki 2012-09-18 10:24 ]