Family gives back to St. Jude with concert fundraiser

JACKSON, Tenn. — A local family was able to say “thank you” Wednesday as they presented a check for $5,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Jacob Barker was treated for retinal cancer at the Memphis hospital, all free of charge.

Now in hopes to help other children like Jacob, the donation came from money raised during an April fundraiser, the inaugural Jacob Barker Music Festival, hosted at the Amp in downtown Jackson.

“They’ve done so much for me and my family that we can never repay the amount of money that they’ve saved us and the amount of stress that they relieved from us while our son was sick,” Ronnie Barker, Jacob’s dad, said.

More than 30 local bands donated their talents and time during the April concert.

The Barker family says they look forward to making the second annual festival even bigger.