By John Curran
The Associated Press

MARGATE, N.J. - How do you make a wooden elephant easier for the handicapped to enjoy?

Bring in soul legends James Brown and Patti LaBelle, of course.

The operators of Lucy the Elephant are trying to raise more than $375,000 to bring the historic landmark into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

On Saturday, the Godfather of Soul and the R&B diva will headline a benefit for Lucy the Elephant.

The six-story elephant, which overlooks the beach, was built in 1881 by James V. Lafferty, who hoped it would help lure real estate buyers to what was then South Atlantic City.

In the early 1900s, the 90-ton structure operated as a home and later a rooming house before being converted into a tourist attraction.