Published on November 26, 2024
A Night of Hope: Give Cancer the Boot Concert Event
On November 16, the Grand Stable Venue in Philpot turned into a beacon of hope. The first-ever Give Cancer the Boot concert brought people together to support patients and families at the Owensboro Health Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center. Organized through the Owensboro Health Foundation, the event raised over $74,000 for cancer care programs.
For Krista Thompson and her family, this cause was deeply personal. Krista was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2023. As she began treatment at MMCC, the care and compassion her family received left a lasting impression. Her son, Cam Thompson—a rising country music artist—decided to give back. With his bandmates, he pledged all their tips from performances across Kentucky to support the center. But their efforts didn’t stop there.
Inspired by the outpouring of support, Krista’s husband, Kevin, reached out to the Owensboro Health Foundation with a bigger idea. A benefit concert featuring Cam and renowned local artist Aaron Kizer was born. The Foundation quickly stepped in, offering marketing, event staffing and planning assistance.
Generosity from the community multiplied their efforts. A donor contributed a rare bottle of Booker’s 10-year anniversary bourbon for auction. Take 10 gas station joined in, donating 10 cents from every gallon of gas sold between October 1 and November 15. Proceeds from ticket sales, table sponsorships, t-shirts and live and silent auctions—including two stunning paintings created by Aaron Kizer during the event—added to the total.
Every note of music and every bid in the auction echoed the spirit of Owensboro Health: building healthier communities together. The funds will provide gas vouchers, treatment assistance, and support for patients who are facing cancer.
This success is just the beginning. The second Give Cancer the Boot concert is already scheduled for November 15, 2025. With the community’s ongoing commitment, the event will continue to make a difference for years to come.
At Owensboro Health, we believe that caring goes beyond medicine. It’s about standing together, uplifting others and creating hope when it’s needed most. To become a partner in hope with Owensboro Heath Foundation, visit OwensboroHealth.org/Foundation.
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; three outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.