Local VA Performers Hold February 15 Benefit to Reduce $10,000 in Medical Bills for Former VCU Student Ke...( RICHMOND Va. Feb. 13 /- A benefit...),Health

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- A benefit to help reduce $10,000 in medical bills for former Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) student Kellie Brown will be held Friday, February 15, 2008, from 7 pm to midnight, at Gallery 5, 200 W. Marshall Street, in Richmond.

Kellie Brown was hospitalized at one local Richmond hospital on September 26th with appendicitis and an emergency appendectomy had to be performed. Following complications five days later, Brown was hospitalized again, this time at a different local hospital. Even after $30,000 in hospital bills were waived because of her low-income status, Brown was billed an additional $10,000 for physician's fees and the second hospitalization. The fact that she was and remains uninsured forced her to drop out of VCU with less than three semesters to go. Brown currently works as an administrative assistant at Personal Chef to Go but still does not have the income to reduce her medical debt.

Gallery 5 is hosting the benefit for Kellie -- entitled Show Some Love For Kellie Brown -- with the hopes of paying off her remaining medical bills. The evening will feature dynamic DJs, two live bands, and two dance troupes as well as a silent, affordable auction featuring local visual artists. In addition, a gently used clothing sale, with items starting at $3 will go to benefit Ms. Brown. Admission at the door is $10 per person.

Performers include:

The GASKETS

Richmond Afrobeat Movement

Sweet Tease Burlesque

DJ Throdown (special sultry set)

DJ Mordecai with

B.O.C.A Crew (757 B-boys)

Silent auction featuring local artists include:

Sean Vandelinde, Kaylee Pickenpaugh, Allison Fiebert, Eric Gonzalez, Ron Curry, Jeff Morris, Sarah Herdrich, Rebecca Witt, Liz Talbot, Preston Duncan, Tyler Straub and more!

Roberto Curtis, arts and entertainment editor for the Commonwealth Times, a VCU Jazz Studies Major and founding member of Richmond Af
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