Troubadours, Eight Days Later To Perform; Proceeds To Defray Polston's Medical Expenses
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Caitlin Perrone-
Being a five-year cancer survivor, Polston has acquired a large amount of debt from paying for his treatments. Because of his involvement in the community, a number of families have decided to give some of their own time and money back to him, and are encouraging the rest of the community to do the same.
On March 29, there will be a benefit concert held at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center as a fundraiser to help Polston with the cost of his cancer treatment. Special guests, The Troubadours, a local high school band, which consists of seniors Tim Savage, Jason Cotton, Jared Boze, and Josh Meade, junior Nick Utter, sophomore Trenton Marshall, and freshman Harrison Clarke will kick off the evening.
Eight Days Later, a band based in Nashville, Tennessee, will be traveling to Warsaw to headline the event. Three of the four band members, Lee Yoder, Matt Barber, and Tracey Pfeiffer are originally from Warsaw, while the fourth, Brett Swayn, is from Australia.
Tickets can be purchased at the WCHS box office for $10, or $12 at the door on the day of the show. It is general admissionl and the doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets also can be purchased at Reinholt's Town Square Furniture, Bibles and Books and Tree of Life bookstore. For credit card "Will Call" orders call 574-371-5040.
The costs of the concert have not all been covered, so if individuals or businesses help with these expenses then all the money received from the ticket sales can go to Officer Polston. Anyone wanting to help in this way can make a donation at any Mutual Federal Savings Bank to the Officer Polston Benefit Fund.
Polston's energetic manner and booming voice causes his students to regard him as a morally strong man who holds fast to his beliefs. Teaching DARE for 16 years has brought him in contact with many current and past Warsaw students, who regard him as a big, loveable hero.
"He has such a heart for young kids, and he's left a lasting impact on my life," said Aaron West, a senior at WCHS. But to many who have watched the tears slide down his face as he explains his story, the term "hero" is an understatement.
In April 2002, Polston was diagnosed with cancer in his left lung. "I had adeno-carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer," said Polston. In July 2002, half of his left lung was removed, and he underwent 20 radiation treatments which finished in October. The following May, anther spot of cancer was located on his left hip, which caused 15 more radiation treatments.
He was put on an oral form of chemo and attended regular checkups every six months until May 2007. While attending a normal appointment, Polston's doctor encouraged him to get a precautionary CT scan, which revealed another spot of lung cancer, this time in his right lung. "With the condition of my lungs from radiation and the fact that I had cancer before, surgery wasn't an option," said Polston. "My only course of action was chemo."
He went through six rounds of chemo three weeks apart, which he finished in November 2007. "Right now there has been no change in the tumor, which is good," said Polston. "They think the chemo got it, so now we'll just wait and see and pray."
Statistically, Polston should have died two years ago. He claims to have blown all the stats and facts out of the water. "I still have no room to complain, because there are a lot of people worse off than I am," said Polston.
Because of his experiences, Polston has become a mentor to others who are newly diagnosed with cancer. He explained that they have their questions and fears, and he does his best to answer them and give them hope. "I had one little girl last year who's grandmother was going through lung cancer," said Polston. "She needed someone to talk to about what was going on, because she didn't understand a lot."
Polston noted that missing half of his lung does have its disadvantages. He has the energy to do simple work around the house, but anything really strenuous becomes difficult very quickly.
One of his disadvantages is the amount of money that has been put into his recovery. Insurance has been a big help to Polston's family, but there have been a large number of incidentals which are not covered. Because of the total out-of-pocket cost, Polston is now in debt. However, he maintains a fairly positive attitude about it all. "It is hard sometimes to make ends meet," he said. "But we're not destitute in any means."
Organizers hope the community will attend this event to support the bands and provide donations for officer Polston via ticket sales.[[In-content Ad]]
Being a five-year cancer survivor, Polston has acquired a large amount of debt from paying for his treatments. Because of his involvement in the community, a number of families have decided to give some of their own time and money back to him, and are encouraging the rest of the community to do the same.
On March 29, there will be a benefit concert held at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center as a fundraiser to help Polston with the cost of his cancer treatment. Special guests, The Troubadours, a local high school band, which consists of seniors Tim Savage, Jason Cotton, Jared Boze, and Josh Meade, junior Nick Utter, sophomore Trenton Marshall, and freshman Harrison Clarke will kick off the evening.
Eight Days Later, a band based in Nashville, Tennessee, will be traveling to Warsaw to headline the event. Three of the four band members, Lee Yoder, Matt Barber, and Tracey Pfeiffer are originally from Warsaw, while the fourth, Brett Swayn, is from Australia.
Tickets can be purchased at the WCHS box office for $10, or $12 at the door on the day of the show. It is general admissionl and the doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets also can be purchased at Reinholt's Town Square Furniture, Bibles and Books and Tree of Life bookstore. For credit card "Will Call" orders call 574-371-5040.
The costs of the concert have not all been covered, so if individuals or businesses help with these expenses then all the money received from the ticket sales can go to Officer Polston. Anyone wanting to help in this way can make a donation at any Mutual Federal Savings Bank to the Officer Polston Benefit Fund.
Polston's energetic manner and booming voice causes his students to regard him as a morally strong man who holds fast to his beliefs. Teaching DARE for 16 years has brought him in contact with many current and past Warsaw students, who regard him as a big, loveable hero.
"He has such a heart for young kids, and he's left a lasting impact on my life," said Aaron West, a senior at WCHS. But to many who have watched the tears slide down his face as he explains his story, the term "hero" is an understatement.
In April 2002, Polston was diagnosed with cancer in his left lung. "I had adeno-carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer," said Polston. In July 2002, half of his left lung was removed, and he underwent 20 radiation treatments which finished in October. The following May, anther spot of cancer was located on his left hip, which caused 15 more radiation treatments.
He was put on an oral form of chemo and attended regular checkups every six months until May 2007. While attending a normal appointment, Polston's doctor encouraged him to get a precautionary CT scan, which revealed another spot of lung cancer, this time in his right lung. "With the condition of my lungs from radiation and the fact that I had cancer before, surgery wasn't an option," said Polston. "My only course of action was chemo."
He went through six rounds of chemo three weeks apart, which he finished in November 2007. "Right now there has been no change in the tumor, which is good," said Polston. "They think the chemo got it, so now we'll just wait and see and pray."
Statistically, Polston should have died two years ago. He claims to have blown all the stats and facts out of the water. "I still have no room to complain, because there are a lot of people worse off than I am," said Polston.
Because of his experiences, Polston has become a mentor to others who are newly diagnosed with cancer. He explained that they have their questions and fears, and he does his best to answer them and give them hope. "I had one little girl last year who's grandmother was going through lung cancer," said Polston. "She needed someone to talk to about what was going on, because she didn't understand a lot."
Polston noted that missing half of his lung does have its disadvantages. He has the energy to do simple work around the house, but anything really strenuous becomes difficult very quickly.
One of his disadvantages is the amount of money that has been put into his recovery. Insurance has been a big help to Polston's family, but there have been a large number of incidentals which are not covered. Because of the total out-of-pocket cost, Polston is now in debt. However, he maintains a fairly positive attitude about it all. "It is hard sometimes to make ends meet," he said. "But we're not destitute in any means."
Organizers hope the community will attend this event to support the bands and provide donations for officer Polston via ticket sales.[[In-content Ad]]
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