Okanagan College alumnus and award-winning country musician Ben Klick has announced dates for the annual multiple sclerosis (MS) benefit concert – Music Fest MS 2021 – and has set a fundraising goal of $50,000 for the MS Society of Canada.
On Sunday, May 30, the event will go live at 1 p.m. streaming to YouTube, on Shaw TV Spotlight and on radio stations New Country 100.7 and New Country 103.1 in Kelowna and Kamloops.
The show will feature musical performances from artists like Jess Moskaluke, Aaron Goodvin, Jason McCoy, Aaron Pritchett, Wes Mack, Chad Brownlee, Bobby Wills, Ben Klick and more. There will also be special guests and a message from the MS Society of Canada. In lieu of the entertainment, viewers can donate funds at www.benklick.com/MusicFestMS.
According to the Okanagan Newspaper Group, Klick launched the Music Fest MS fundraiser in 2018 after his father was diagnosed with MS. The first live concert raised more than $35,000 and last year, despite the pandemic, the fundraiser garnered over $27,500. Klick is hoping to almost double that goal to reach $50,000 this year.
"When I got the news, I knew I wanted to do something to help, and that's where the idea for Music Fest MS came in," said Klick in his news release. "This year the festival will be held online. It's a fun, positive, uplifting show."
Klick is a regular face around Okanagan College and a familiar voice leading the O Canada national anthem for all of OC's convocation ceremonies.