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Benefit to be held for Whitewater musician

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Submitted photo

Pat Peterson, a local musician who now has brain cancer.

WHITEWATER — The old adage says what goes around comes around.

It couldn’t be truer for local musician Patrick Peterson.

Peterson for years has given time and talent to support the community through fundraising events. Now a group of area musicians have banded together to host a benefit for Peterson, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.

“He’s done so many benefits and raised so much money for other people, and we just thought someone should do it for him,” said Leah McKelvey, one of the event organizers.

The event is titled “Live. Love. Rock.—A Benefit for Patrick Peterson.” It’s planned for Saturday, Nov. 14, in Deerfield. Proceeds will help the Peterson family pay for living and medical expenses.

Live. Love. Rock. will be a family-friendly event, McKelvy said, and include live music, food, games and a raffle.

Peterson, who is a member of several local bands and gives guitar lessons to kids, was diagnosed with brain cancer in early September and had surgery to remove the tumor in late September.

“He’s just so positive and wonderful … so when he found out, I think he was kind of in shock,” McKelvy said. “But he’s been positive about the whole thing. I think he’s going to get through it.”

The Petersons—Patrick, Ruth and their 6-year-old daughter Jazmine—need help, McKelvy said. Patrick no longer is able to work a full-time job or play gigs with his bands, and Ruth has become her husband’s full-time caregiver. The couple are on medical leave, she said.

Peterson has performed for more than 100 charitable events.

He’s helped organize:

-- The Second Street Hope Festival, a benefit for a 10-year-old Whitewater boy with cancer.

-- The Jack Hartmann Open, an annual fundraiser for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

-- Robstock, an annual music festival and fundraiser.

He has helped to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the people and organizations in the community.

“To be fortunate enough to say I have touched many lives has been a heart-warming experience,” Peterson once said. “I don’t know what could top the feeling of giving to so many deserving people.”