Bryan Abbot and Judy Batchelder Rose laugh with former classmate Scott Pollak in his hotel room before the August high school reunion. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Hometown pop stars Blessid Union of Souls will headline a benefit concert Saturday at Kings High School. Proceeds will go to the Scott Pollak wheelchair fund.

        Enquirer readers were introduced to Mr. Pollak last month when he attended the Kings High School class of 1981 reunion. The Aug. 6 story told of how former classmates, in particular Lisa Smith of Lebanon, went to extraordinary lengths to bring Scott here from Florida, where he lives in a nursing home.

        He has needed full-time care since a 1982 car accident left him unable to use his hands or walk.

        During the reunion, it was obvious to former classmates that Scott's wheelchair was inadequate. His 6-foot-4 frame simply didn't fit.

IF YOU GO

What: Benefit concert to benefit the Scott Pollak wheelchair fund.     When: 5-11 p.m. Saturday     Where: Kings High School auditorium, 5500 Columbia Road, Kings Mills.     Admission: $10. Front-row seats are $20 ($15 for students); stage seats, $40.     Featuring: Blessid Union of Souls with special guest Thunder Head. Also performing are No Love Lost, Places, Stone Blue, Belinda Scroggins, Jason Phelps.     Information: (513) 932-7934 or www.farmparty3.com.

        In the days that followed, a wheelchair fund was set up at a local bank and about $1,200 was raised. But Mrs. Smith, who works with people with disabilities at Beechwood Home, knew the cost of a customized, power chair could top $10,000.

        She thought of Jeff Pence, Scott's cousin, whom she had met when he visited Scott a few days before the Kings reunion. The cousins had reminisced about spending time together as kids, going fishing and to Kings Island.

        So Mrs. Smith wrote to Mr. Pence, who is guitarist for Blessid Union of Souls. In her letter, Mrs. Smith hinted at the need for a fund-raiser. Mr. Pence immediately picked up on the idea, and wanted to be involved in the planning.

        Kings High agreed to host the event. Individuals and businesses donated goods and services. A lineup of performers was booked. Items for a silent auction were obtained, including an autographed Ken Griffey Jr. baseball and a Bengals football.

        “We've got people calling from Michigan and (other) parts of Ohio, (asking) "Where's Kings High School?' They want to come down,” Mr. Pence says.

        The person who would most like to attend is Scott, but it's unlikely he'll be able to make the trip from Florida.
       

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