Concert assists cancer patient

April 14--JOHNSTOWN -- The family, friends and co-workers of Julie (Migut) Hanlin are conducting a fundraising concert to assist with expenses related to a recent cancer diagnosis.

The concert will feature four area bands who will perform beginning at 9 p.m.May 3 at Turner Hall, located at 632 Railroad St. in Johnstown.

Hanlin was diagnosed with Stage 4 uterine cancer in January. She is being treated at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh and the UPMC John P. Murtha Regional Cancer Center, 337 Somerset St., Johnstown.

Hanlin, 50, of Lower Yoder Township, has worked as a server for 25 years at Eat'n Park, 1900 Minno Drive. She and her husband of 32 years, Ed, also an employee at Eat'n Park, are the parents of two children, Ashley, 24, and Jason, 16, both of whom live at home.

Ashley will soon give the Hanlins their first grandchild.

Early in January, Hanlin went to the emergency room with severe stomach pain. Five days later after visiting her gynecologist, a mass was discovered on her uterus.

She was immediately referred to Magee-Womens.

During her first appointment at Magee, she was told that not only did she have a cancerous mass on her uterus, there were nodules on her lungs and more testing was necessary.

As initial test results were completed, Hanlin was told that additional testing was unnecessary because the cancer had spread to other areas of her body, including her heart and urethra.

The concert will feature performances by Jason DeWitt, Inside Out, UnDerCover and Wild Syde.

"The bands will play from

9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with a lot of activity in between," said Jaime Rowser, event coordinator and Hanlin's co-worker. "Julie currently is on short-term disability from work and the family is not only struggling with medical and travel expenses, but also maintaining their home for their children and expected grandchild."

The organizing committee has set a goal of $5,000.

A $7 donation is being asked.

"That $7 will get people in the door, where we will have a 50/50 and lots of other fantastic things planned," Rowser said. "All of the bands are donating their time."

Each performance will last about an hour.

"The groups will share equipment, including sound, to allow quick turnarounds in performances," Rowser said.

Attendees must be 21 or older.

Now that they have lost over half of their income, the family is trying to cope as best it can.

"Fortunately, before Julie was diagnosed, she got health insurance for the first time in 25 years," Rowser said. "But because she is not working, expenses continue to mount."

Rowser said Julie Hanlin is the soul of the family and all money raised will directly help the family.

"Julie has a wonderful sense of humor and would be the first person to help someone else in trouble," Rowser said.

Rowser said that for those who cannot attend the fundraiser but would like to make a donation, they can go online at http://www.gofundme.com/6mi3l8 to contribute.

Tom Lavis covers Features for the Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter.com/Tom LavisTD.

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