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The Aggie Dotson Memorial Southern Gospel Diabetic Benefit Concert took place Oct. 7 at the North Manchester High School auditorium.
The concert raised more than $10,000, which was donated Wednesday to the American Diabetes Association.
"All this is in the name of my wife," Ralph Dotson, Silver Lake, said. "She was a real well-liked person. But she had a tough time with this (diabetes)."
Aggie Dotson died Jan. 25, 1999, of complications from diabetes. Since then, Dotson decided to do something to help people who have diabetes. The concert was part of that effort.
"I can do this for my wife and I can do this for other people," Dotson said.
"We set a goal for ourselves for $5,000 and we've exceeded that," he said. "People have been so helpful." The concert more than doubled Dotson's goal.
Performers included The Hinsons, Ronny Hinson and The Freemans, all of Nashville, Tenn. Also performing were The Dotsons of Silver Lake: John and his wife, Yavonna. John is Ralph's son.
"Thanks to the energy, enthusiasm and commitment of everyone involved, the concert was a resounding success," Paula Keswick, district manager of the Northwest Indiana ADA office, said. "The money they raised will help fund research to find a cure and programs to improve the lives of people with diabetes."
Keswick said 27,000 people in Warsaw and the surrounding areas have diabetes, and nearly 16 million Americans have diabetes nationwide. Each year, 798,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease, she said, and it's the sixth leading cause of death by disease in America, killing more people than AIDS or breast cancer. This year alone, Keswick said, more than 180,000 Americans will die from complications of diabetes.
This was the first time for the benefit concert. Dotson said it was successful and everyone "has been really nice." He hopes to host the concert annually.
