Ben Kellogg didn't run a marathon, he ran the Merrithon — a seven-hour leukemia-benefit concert featuring local punk and ska bands in honor of Merritt Navazio.
Navazio, who graduated from Churchill in 2001, developed leukemia approximately 12 months ago. After two rounds of chemotherapy in Baltimore, he recently received a stem cell transplant in Seattle, Wash. and is now in remission.
He returned from Seattle the night before the benefit concert and performed with his old band, The Nothing Squad on Saturday night.
"When we found out, it was a week before one of our concerts. Merritt's mom let me know," said Kellogg, a founding member of The Nothing Squad, an eight-piece ska band. "We were in shock and since then we've put a little box out at all our concerts to raise money for leukemia research. The money we were making wasn't that much, so we decided to have a huge concert."
THE 13-BAND CONCERT, which was held last Saturday, June 15, from 2-9:30 p.m. at Churchill High School, raised over $2,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Close to 300 people attended.
"I met Merritt two winters ago when we went sledding. It's disturbing to know someone your age can have something so serious," said Sean Khalepari, 18. "Hopefully this raises a little more money and raises a little more awareness."
It definitely provided more than a little fun.
"I'm really here for the Nackles, they're awesome," said Jon Blundell, 16, of Richard Montgomery High School. "I'm here for the music and the fact that there's the cause makes it even better. It's pretty sweet."
THOSE IN THE MOSH PIT were hopping from the beginning of the concert.
"I've been going to shows since June, two or three years ago and I've never stopped," said Sean Khalepari, 18, who helped with security at the event.
"A mosh pit is hard to describe, it's basically energy threaded into hard dancing. It shows bands how into the music you are, it pumps up everybody's energy level."
"It's the best thing," said Ben Sigerson, of the Nackles, a D.C. punk band from Wilson High School which has been together since March of 2000.
Although Sigerson's mother Suzanne Sigerson didn't join the mosh pit at Churchill she's come close at her son's other shows.
"Once, the mosh pit moved toward me and a couple of guys blocked me from it. I guess they thought I would be so light that I'd get lifted away," said Suzanne Sigerson.
"I think this is great. I work with the father of Ben Kellogg and didn't even realize it was a benefit concert until he told me. I know our guys were excited to play for it."
"It's a nice cause to be able to play for," said Ben Sigerson, 17, of Wilson High School.
KELLOGG AND MANY of his friends helped organize and run the concert. He was helped by Noreen Tahir, a rising senior at Churchill, and Michelle Chin.
"Ben asked me to do a couple of favors, it went from there. It's really fun. It's exciting to be here for all my friends," said Noreen.
"There were a couple of bands I hadn't heard of, but many are my favorites. I'm excited that they are all together for one great show," said
"This is pretty cool," said Navazio.