Archives for January 2023

Good Vibes for McKenna, A Celebration Benefiting Cancer Research

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Thanks to “Good Vibes for McKenna, A Celebration Benefiting Cancer Research” for hosting an EXTRAORDINARY two-day event held January 21st and 22nd in Fort Myers, Florida. We truly appreciate their $25,000 donation to The EHE Foundation to support EHE research and for creating much needed EHE awareness! The event featured a fine dining experience and acoustic performance at Colleoni’s Ristorante Italiano on Saturday and an epic all-day concert at The Ranch Concert Hall and Saloon on Sunday. 

“Good Vibes for McKenna,” is a non-profit formed in memory of McKenna Helm who passed away from EHE on November 17, 2021 at the young age of 31. McKenna Helm was a fun, caring, empathetic, and poised young woman that brightened the life of everyone she touched. After her EHE diagnosis, McKenna focused on making the most of each day and turned to her next love, live music, for hope and encouragement.

The event included Cody Canada & The Departed, Ian Moore, Them Dirty Roses, and Ross Mead.

“Good Vibes for McKenna allows us to carry on McKenna’s legacy and spirit of loving and caring. It not only honors her life, but it also pays tribute to every person whose life she touched. Thanks to those who joined us in Fort Myers this past weekend.  We are already looking ahead to future events. We are incredibly grateful to the bands and sponsors for helping us support The EHE Foundation. Together, we are supporting research for those who are fighting the same rare cancer as McKenna,” said Bob Hebdon, President of Good Vibes for McKenna Inc.

“We are very thankful for “Good Vibes for McKenna” and everyone who came together in McKenna’s memory to make this a truly remarkable event.  This donation is dedicated to EHE research and will have a direct impact on those affected by this one-in-a-million cancer,” said LeeAnn Conner. LeeAnn and Julie Wahl are both Board Members of The EHE Foundation and accepted a $25,000 check on behalf of The EHE Foundation at the event.

The EHE Foundation is very appreciative to the event’s sponsors for their dedication to rare cancer research! Sponsors include Sam Galloway Ford, School of Rock Fort Myers, Luminary Hotel & Co., Colleoni’s Ristorante Italiano, Cozza Investment Group Inc., and Taco Works.

McKenna Helm

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McKenna Helm was a fun, caring, empathetic, poised young woman that brightened the life of everyone she touched.  She was an integral part of a large extended family, and she loved each and every member of the family unconditionally.  To her friends, she was a ray of sunshine on the cloudiest days.  As competitive as the day is long, she played board games around the kitchen table and billiards as fiercely as she did her true love, softball. 

After her initial diagnosis, McKenna focused on making the most of each day and turned to her next love, live music, for hope and encouragement. On November 17, 2021 McKenna lost a brief battle with the rare cancer, EHE, at the young age of 31.  Although her daily physical absence has left a void that can never truly be filled, her spirit of loving and caring lives on through the “Good Vibes for McKenna,” which was established by family and friends in her honor and holds an annual event in Fort Meyers, Florida to raise money for good causes, like rare cancer research.  In McKenna’s own words, we have to “just keep dancing.”