UPDATE: "A CONCERT FOR TREVOR"

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, M.D. is a talented and caring Neurosurgeon in Atlanta, Georgia. He practices medicine at both Emory University Medical Center and Grady Memorial Hospital in addition to his duties as a medical correspondent for CNN Headline News. Dr. Gupta has been out of the country on assignment, but will return soon. At that time, I feel confident that he will review materials I have provided to him and his staff. These materials include contact information for Trevor's family, a summary of his medical condition with an infiltrating astrocytoma, his Caringbridge website, photos and much more.

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This is a very compelling opportunity during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month if Dr. Gupta and his CNN producer and staff are willing to give Trevor's story exposure as a way to intensify childhood cancer awareness. Melinda and Trevor will be available to visit with Sanjay and the nation can meet this adorable little boy who is the focus of our efforts to reach out and help him. While we are all anxiously awaiting word from Dr. Gupta and his staff, we are also very humbled by the time and consideration they have provided to us and I am in a dialogue with his staff at CNN.

Kidd Kraddick is another talented guy in my profession. In fact, we worked in the same market (Dallas/Ft. Worth) for years. Interestingly, we never competed against each other in radio for two reasons. First, I was a news anchor and secondly, even if I were a morning radio personality, there is no competing with Kidd. He is tops in the ratings when it comes to his show Kidd Kraddick in the Morning. Kidd was brought into consideration by our volunteers who listen to his syndicated show and they have submitted proposals to "Kidd's Kidd's"--a non-profit organization founded by Kidd himself to address needy children in our communities. Like Dr, Gupta, Kidd has received an expedited Fed Ex shipment containing the same materials I have shared with Dr. Gupta in the hope that Kidd will consider a phone interview with Melinda. Melinda is a 6th grade teacher with a Masters degree in Elementary Education. She is a lovely gal and can speak as Trevor's mother about where Trevor has been and what the goals are for his treatment team in Midland , Texas and St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis. Trevor will receive an MRI on September 16th to gauge progress on two small tumors in the brain and two more on his spinal cord. Trevor lives in a market where Kidd's broadcasts are heard.

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To be fair, I should point out that like Dr. Gupta, Kidd receives many similar requests as mine and I am only asking for his time and consideration to interview Melinda, myself (if needed) and perhaps to post a photo of Trevor on his website with information for listeners to help. Neither Kidd nor Dr. Gupta are obligated. But we hope their hearts are touched as yours have been in responding to any news I post about this remarkable little boy. How often I have thought to myself, "What if this was my son?" If you are a parent, I don't need to ask you how you might feel in Todd and Melinda's shoes. We can only imagine. And from that standpoint, we can also choose to help.

Michael Manning's Update: On behalf of "Team Trevor": Sue, Jennifer, Lisa, Brandie, Kelli and myself I really deliberated with what to write this morning. I believe in being totally honest and transparent because the longer I am on this planet one thing has become clear to me. Whenever we have an opportunity to live our lives out of Love and not Fear, we are blessed with a Divine Gift whenever we have a chance to speak with another person and connect with them on a substance level. There isn't a week that goes by where I'm not sharing Trevor Tredaway's story during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with a kind stranger who becomes my new friend. We exchange business cards, and invariably they are invited to visit this website and Blog. So, this morning the sun has risen, and I have another day of life to share with each of you reading this post about what is taking place with "A Concert for Trevor". Let's get to the facts.

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LAST WEEK: Our venue in Lubbock (this was an initial concert fundraiser) informed me that they had a problem with a concert that involved fund raising and public relations. In all of my years in business, I have never heard such feedback. The term fundraiser was used liberally for over two-months with this organization and they understood we were seeking to help a 4 year-old coping with brain cancer. Since we are a small group of volunteers open to attracting more volunteers, I realized long ago that we needed a public relations firm or professional who would help me implement our Media Plan at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance of our event to allow Melinda Tredaway, Trevor's mother and I to be available for any radio or television airtime that was provided to us that would lead to what is called in event management, "a mutually beneficial transaction". This was lost on the Lubbock venue and after a conversation last Tuesday with one of the key principals, it became apparent to me that the person I was dealing with was not properly focusing on my extensive communication more than two minutes at a time. There was simply no way I was going to allow a sloppy, haphazard event to be staged in Trevor's honor without the component of raising funds for his extensive medical costs in addition to raising public awareness of his plight. With this in mind, I submitted a letter withdrawing our plans for a Lubbock concert and decided Trevor deserved nothing less than the best. So, we are squarely focused on one solid concert that will take place in Trevor's home town of Midland, Texas. We have a Media Plan, the backing of the Midland Telegram Reporter newspaper, The American Cancer Society, Mid-Memorial Hospital and need only a venue and a band. Fed Ex Office & Print Centers will handle production of posters to be placed in retail establishments in the Midland area. Next...

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MIDLAND VENUE: We are in need of a venue. Our potential venue should ideally have stage, a sound system (with a sound technician), and lighting. A representative from The Midland Federal Credit Union will be available to accept the door cover that will be the fund raising component to help defray costs of Trevor's medical treatments not covered by his insurance. We will also require an artist or band willing waive their performance fee. I will open the show with a short acoustic set. The venue will retain all food and beverage sales and we will determine a date and a time for the concert. This will be a straightforward celebration of Trevor's life that will allow us to help the family properly. The last thing any parent needs is to worry about is finances at a time when their energies and love need to be focused entirely on helping their child to emerge from medical treatments to live a cancer-free life, and we volunteers are committed to this goal. Anyone with any contacts that would help us achieve our goals is encouraged to email me at: michaelmanninginfo@GMail.com.

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MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: As I have previously stated, I am the organizer of this event. I began work on "A Concert for Trevor" back in November, 2008. Trevor's story is one that is at once inspiring and filled with Hope. I am available for radio guest interviews and even Blog interviews about this concert initiative. Our Media Plan in Midland will be to contact four television stations and a News/Talk radio station along with The Midland Reporter-Telegram (already following this project). We are open to improving our reach and welcome helpful suggestions and contact names toward these ends.

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SUMMARY: Organizing and execution of this concert will result in three things: 1.) We will increase awareness about children with cancer in America. 2.) Through our efforts, the media can be a positive agent of change by helping to bring awareness to Trevor Tredaway's unique story of the heart. 3.) The concert will be a night of music that will be fun and unforgettable. Nailing down a venue, an artist and a date and time will occur in that order. This has been a tremendous effort and I want to close out this update with a word about what is possible with the love and friendship of people who care like Jennifer, Lisa, Brandie, Sue and Kelly. Their involvement is the definition of "Love in action". I can tell you that we are not easily discouraged. We are a focused, positive and energetic group that will not rest until we organize the components of this concert and provide The Tredaway Family with the Love and Supportiveness they need as Trevor continues to make his way through Chemotherapy and testing. Please keep us in your best thoughts and prayers. This project is so much bigger than any of us individually. It is a blessing. I can say on behalf of the team that it allows us to step outside of ourselves and any trivial concerns taking place in our own lives to reach out and help this adorable little boy. We need Trevor in this world more than ever. He has an infectious sense of humor and he is simply a Joy, believe me. The bottom line is that we will get this event organized, scheduled and executed. We welcome input and help from any of you who care to become a member of our team and of course, I'll keep you posted as we move forward. Thanks for your time and interest. Here is Trevor Tredaway's Website where you can read about his story, see his photos and learn from Melinda what plans are ahead this week: www.caringbridge.or/visit/trevortredaway.
Love and Peace to All,

Michael