Hawk Mountain Sanctuary outdoor concert benefits Road to Recovery for local artist

New music filled the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary outdoor amphitheater to assist chain noticed artist Todd Gladfelter of Schuylkill County and his ongoing recovery from partial paralysis.

An estimated 250 to 300 persons arrived out for the Todd Gladfelter’s Road to Restoration Benefit Concert on Could 28, increasing $15,500 for the Gladfelter-Ross loved ones.

“It was unbelievable seeing so quite a few buddies from the previous and men and women we did not know who arrived up to wish us perfectly and so several musicians who were being ready to give up their time to aid us out. It felt like a fantastic group of lovers rooting for you,” said Todd. “It can make it much easier to get through the really hard times and function harder at rehab.”

 

Prior to his drop from a roof in November 2021, Todd was commissioned in late 2019 to create performs of art for Hawk Mountain’s new outside amphitheater. Employing a chain observed carving technique, he crafted replicas of 32 species of indigenous Appalachian wildlife.

“Hawk Mountain by no means had an outdoors training room in advance of this spot was designed. I truly refer to this as the Sistine Chapel for Hawk Mountain,” claimed Sanctuary President Sean Grace, talking about a reside raptor system held at the amphitheater. “Just the seems to be on the kids’ faces to have that knowledge in this area, just an vital and indelible element of what this area is and will always be is Todd Gladfelter.”

He claimed Todd is one particular of those people people that would by no means question for assist.

“It’s our task as a group to exhibit assistance,” mentioned Grace.  “It’s heading to be a enjoyable and rowdy bash all in celebration of a genuinely fantastic factor as Todd is on his street to recovery.”

People introduced chairs, blankets and even tents for the rain.

“The amphitheater, with substantial wood posts chain-observed-carved by Todd prior to his incident, was overflowing with family, mates, hikers, musicians and many others in help of Todd’s recovery,” explained pal Wendy Kerschner.

The most impactful instant was when Todd took the stage with Dave Kline & The Mountain Folks Band to accompany them with his recently realized harmonica skills. A buddy experienced gifted Todd harmonicas and Kline offered instruction on how to participate in “Angleline the Baker.”

“With his at any time existing can-do attitude, Todd took the stage, sent a effective instance of how to adapt and conquer, and received a standing ovation,” claimed Kerschner. “He’s an incredible man! A wonder! His spirit in the face of such too much to handle troubles is inspiring!”

Equally as inspiring is his spouse, Cindy Ross.

“She has taken on and embraced new abilities as a caregiver, whilst accepting the enable and assistance of family members and close friends to make adaptions to their residence and way of living so she and Todd can proceed the daily life of outdoor dwelling and journey they get pleasure from and crafted for themselves,” reported Kerschner. “It was a accumulating of kind-hearted, like-minded people today, displaying aid and like to a couple who have completed the same for other folks all through their several years!”

Among the these in attendance have been friends Martha and Jay Ressler, artists from Hamburg.

“The feelings that occur to my thoughts are just warmth and community and generosity,” claimed Martha. “There ended up so several folks there I realized hugs, tears and just generosity, appreciate and supplying, and genuinely fantastic music.”

“This is how community should come collectively this is how individuals can and need to aid every single other,” Martha ongoing. “This is what being alive is about. This is the great things this is what we reside for.”

Profit concert for a pal

Berks musician Dave Kline, a pal of Todd and Cindy, coordinated the musicians for the live performance.

“Todd Gladfelter’s Recovery Concert Function was impressed, motivated and rooted in my appreciate of the male and spouse and household who them selves have devoted a lot of their have time for the betterment of our group at substantial, but also for veterans in will need and for the education and learning of little ones and households by a relationship to the wonderful outdoor,” explained Kline.

Prior to his harm, Todd gained lots of accolades, together with numerous championships at the Mid-Atlantic Nationwide Chainsaw Opposition.

He also actively aided operate the River Property Veteran’s team outings, cycled, backpacked and paddled around the globe, and also demonstrated his skills hammering steel in his blacksmith forge.

His get the job done making his log house was detailed in his wife’s book, “Log Cabin A long time: How 1 Pair Designed a Household from Scratch and Designed a Life.”

Instantly after Todd’s accident, Kline knew his principal mission on Todd’s Highway to Restoration, the fundraising campaign, would be to manage a concert fundraiser to enable offset the monumental professional medical charges.

Kline posted a ask for for musical volunteers on Facebook and inside 30 minutes the concert lineup was totally booked.

“Having taken treatment of that and getting Todd’s family members on board, we reached out to artist Jon Bond and Sean Grace and the leadership group of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and they jumped on board with out hesitation, meaning that every thing was established to build a amazing working day of tunes, fellowship and joy at Hawk Mountain exactly where Todd experienced carved a lot more than 30 beautiful wildlife figures that adorn the phase location,” stated Kline.

8 musical functions from midday to 5 p.m. involved Keith Brintzenhoff, Crow Hill, Luke Hertzog, Texas Rose Band, Large Valley Bluegrass, The Youngers, Dave Kline & The Mountain Folks Band, a presentation by Todd’s son Bryce Gladfelter, a music by the spring class of Hawk Mountain trainees, the singing of “You’ll Hardly ever Stroll Alone,” and a finale jam that includes Todd, Dave Kline, and other musicians.

“Performing at an occasion to solely profit yet another individual is, for me, 1 of the most gratifying inner thoughts,” said Luke Hertzog. “Everyone is there for one bring about, to help other people. When you see neighborhood and performers display up en masse in such a way, you really know how a lot great there actually is nevertheless lingering in the earth.”

“Dave is a longtime treasured buddy with a substantial coronary heart,” claimed Invoice Parker of Major Valley Bluegrass. “When he questioned Big Valley to be a section of this special working day it was a no-brainer. Currently being on that stage and viewing firsthand the outpouring of help was further than mind-boggling. We ought to all be so lucky to have as considerably assistance to a result in as Todd noticed, and to have a friend these as Dave.”

“Crow Hill thought it an honor and duty to take part in this fundraising occasion for our pal, Todd Gladfelter,” explained Matt Wlasniewski of Crow Hill. “It was a large outpouring of enjoy and aid for Todd and his spouse, Cindy, from a local community comprised of Hawk Mountain team and members, nearby musicians, artists and Todd’s relatives and pals.”

In the course of Crow Hill’s final tune, “Ain’t No Grave,” as if on cue, the rain clouds broke and sunlight lined the viewers in entrance of the stage, he explained.

“This seemed to symbolize the spirit and determination of Todd and the viewers applauded and cheered in settlement. As the hawk counters say, ‘It was a fantastic working day on the mountain,’” claimed Wlasniewski.

Deborah Cooper held a bake sale and inspired people to signal up for the Street To Recovery Profit Raffle & Auction scheduled for June 5 at Landingville Fire Household, 1 Firehouse Road, Landingville in Schuylkill County. The auction occasion features foods, beer, wine and a bake sale, with a silent auction 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and stay auction 3 to 5 p.m.

Todd and Cindy were being founding users of The Arts Barn and contributing member. Todd was quite lively on the board and with his welding and chainsaw art get the job done.

“When the word went out for assist, our amazing artists stepped forward contributing their imaginative artwork. The loyal Arts Barn followers and volunteers also stepped up to support. Volunteers and artists even participated in a massive mosaic triptych of birch trees in Todd’s honor,” reported Cooper.

Uplifting working experience

“It felt like 1 of the very best times of my existence, correct up there with my marriage working day and the start of my youngsters,” explained Cindy. “So overwhelming with like and help, we have been the two fairly blown absent.”

Their son’s rap track for his father and video of Todd’s therapeutic journey was amazingly emotional, she reported.

Whilst they understood most in attendance, some ended up strangers, “It was incredible to have all this for us.”

Considering the fact that the incident, so quite a few have arrived at out to aid.

“I had no idea that we had impacted their life … and now they have a probability to assist us. It is truly impressive,” said Ross. “We really don’t truly feel like we’re some sort of rock stars that people should really be aiding us like this because we have just been living our lives the way we imagine we should really be residing. I guess we created a major impression on people for the past 60 decades.”

Most of all, the concert was uplifting.

“When in the center of the night and he wakes up crying and yelling in suffering and he desires to cease and he’s tired of it and wants it to be about, he can consider about that day and it’ll give him a lot more power,” claimed Cindy. “It’s seriously about the individuals and who are there for us if we need to have them, even if it’s just imagining about that they’re there.”

Funds lifted at the live performance will go toward professional medical bills, therapies, devices and other fees.

“We have a little window of his physique to regenerate nerve cells. It is a yr and a half to two years prior to he’ll plateau and incredibly minor progress will manifest thereafter,” Cindy stated. “So I’m employing all sorts of men and women to come in every single day to do more treatment.”

Over-all, what she relished most was the outpouring of appreciate.

“It was like there was electricity in the air.”

Kline mentioned the occasion turned out to be almost everything they hoped.

Hundreds sang together, clapped alongside and donated to guide the relatives in the economical aspect of the artist’s highway to restoration, Kline explained.

“The ambiance of the day couldn’t have been much more excellent and the most truthful way to explain it is that all people, viewers, musicians, volunteers were all virtually high from all the beautiful love and mild shared at this the moment in a life span afternoon,” claimed Kline. “Sometimes it would seem as even though the gentle of the overall universe shines down upon these kinds of a scene and the ambiance that was designed on this day was one particular for the ages.”

His hope was to support Todd’s household in a money way.

“Because of the amazing vibe that grew all through the day, what occurred transcended dollars and became a thing that was a strong and affirmative lifestyle experience that none of us will ever forget,” claimed Kline.

See a online video of the function entitled, Todd’s Street to Recovery Concert Party, on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/look at?v=pptzSri43v8.

To make a donation, mail a look at manufactured out to Cindy Ross at 85 Red Mountain Lane, New Ringgold, PA 17960. For far more details about impending situations and fundraisers, go to Todd Gladfelter’s Road to Recovery Fb team.