Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Church rallies around member of its flock

Northgate Baptist will hold a gospel benefit for a longtime member who was recently diagnosed with epilepsy.

By SHERYL KAY
Published September 23, 2005

NORTH TAMPA - Southern gospel will fill the air Saturday night at Northgate Baptist Church as members hold a benefit concert for one of their own.

Patti Blair, 22, who has been a member of the church since childhood, was recently diagnosed with epilepsy after falling down at the church's preschool where she is an assistant teacher.

"It was a condition that she most likely had as a child, but the doctors told her she probably had seizures while she was sleeping and that's why she didn't know she had it," said Dixon Ayres, associate pastor at the church.

Because Blair is a part-time employee, she has no medical insurance, so all testing, visits to specialists, and now medication, are out-of-pocket expenses for her. Just her antiseizure medication, Lamictal, costs $275 per month, and Blair will probably need to take it for the rest of her life.

Donating their time and services for the benefit are the Wayne Lacey Family, the Kings Messengers, Three Plus One, and the Faithful Men, all local gospel entertainers.

"She's just a nice young lady, with a dream to work with children and further her own education, so we want to help her do that by helping her with some of these medical expenses," Ayres said.

The concert will be held at the church, at 1301 W Linebaugh Ave., beginning at 7 p.m. There is no charge for admission or parking. However, there will be donations collected for Blair.

For more information, call the church office at 933-6741.

Contact reporter Sheryl Kay at skreporter@hotmail.com

[Last modified September 22, 2005, 09:00:09]