Fundraiser events being organized for local EMS director battling cancer

Local first responders are planning a benefit concert and another fundraiser for a Corbin woman, who is suffering from cancer and has spent much of her adult life helping others.

Amanda Jackson is currently Whitley County EMS director and has worked for the ambulance service for the past 15 years. She was named director last year after Kelly Harrison retired.

In addition, Amanda and her husband, Corbin Firefighter Chad Jackson, are also members of West Knox Volunteer Fire Department.

“Amanda was diagnosed with stage four cancer, and we wanted to do something to help her and her family out, so we came together with Corbin Fire Department, the City of Corbin and West Knox Volunteer Fire Department,” said Whitley County Projects Director Amber Owens.

Whitley County EMS is hosting a “Benefit Night for Amanda Jackson,” on Saturday, Jan. 6, at The Corbin Arena where the County Wide band will be performing.

There will be a $10 entry fee for the event, and those 10 and under will get in for free.

County Wide is performing for free, and the City of Corbin is donating use of The Corbin Arena for free for the event, Owens said.

There will be concession stand food served during the event. Several groups that Whitley County EMS work with, such as Air Evac and PHI are donating food items. Brandon Prewitt with LLL Barbeque is donating pulled pork for the event.

West Knox Volunteer Fire Department will also be hosting a benefit auction during the event.

“All of the proceeds from this will go back to Amanda,” Owens noted.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the event starts at 6 p.m.

“You can come early at 5 p.m. and look at the silent auction items and make your bid. If anybody has auction items that they would like to donate, we will take those as well,” Owens added. “We will have music, concession food and a silent auction just trying to help Amanda and Chad out.”

Anyone wanting to donate should contact the Corbin Fire Department at (606) 528-1122 or Whitley County EMS at (606) 539-0867 for more information.

The next day on Sunday, Jan. 7, there will be an “Art and Appetizers Benefit for Amanda Jackson,” which will take place from 3 – 7 p.m. at The Corbin Arena.

Felicia Fore, one of the Art and Appetizers organizers, said the event will be like other paint while you eat or paint while you socialize events that people attend.

There will be a ribbon cutout that participants will paint during the event, which can be decorated in various ways.

The $50 fee per person will cover everything, including the cost of painting materials and appetizers.

Fore noted that various finger foods are being donated for the event.

Anyone needing more information about the Art & Appetizers event can call Fore at (606) 515-3470.

Organizers don’t have a goal for how much money that they hope to raise through the two events.