Benefit concert for injured teen planned March 21 at Tampa’s Skipper’s Smokehouse

Avi Davidson recuperating at home. A benefit concert to support Avi Davidson, the Tampa teen severely injured in a fall from a utility pole, will take place Sunday, March 21 from 3 - 7 p.m. at Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa.

The event’s proceeds will benefit Avi’s continuing medical expenses through donations to the non-profit Southeast Spinal Cord Injury Fund of the National Transplant Assistance Fund and Catastrophic Injury Program (NTAF). The money will go into an account earmarked for Avi.

On Oct. 1, the 16-year-old was attempting to photograph the sunset from atop a utility pole when he fell. He suffered multiple burns, was paralyzed from the waist down and had to have his left arm amputated.

He spent nearly three months in the hospital before going to the family’s Northdale home. The house has been retrofitted to accommodate a wheelchair and other special needs for Avi.

He is the son of Jeffrey Davidson, Lea Merill Davidson-Bern and step-father Robert Bern.

“Proceeds from the entry fee as well as a silent auction and 50/50 chance drawing will provide funds to help in the rehabilitation and high-tech equipment needed in Avi’s recovery and to assist him as he tries to live a normal life,” said benefit organizer Rabbi Debrah Shenefelt, who serves as one of Avi’s spiritual advisers.

The cost to attend the benefit is $10 for adults and $5 for children. The event is free for children under 6.

The concert will feature four local bands: vintage rockers Male Order Brides; pop music band, The Truth About Gigi that features three siblings; blues band Dukes Of Juke and Gumbo Boogie Band, which claims to be “Florida’s New Orleans Party Band.”

The emcee for the day is Channel 10’s senior reporter Mike Deeson.

Tickets can be purchased at Skippers Smokehouse by contacting (813) 971-0666 or at www.skipperssmokehouse.com. Anyone who cannot attend but would like to support Avi, should contact NTAF.

Checks should be sent to NTAF Southeast Spinal Cord Injury Fund, 150 N., Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120, Radnor, PA 19087. Be sure to include in the memo line, “In honor of Avi Davidson.” To make a donation by credit card, call 1-800-642-8399 or visit www.NTAFund.org.

NTAF is a nonprofit that helps transplant patients and individuals living with catastrophic injury (spinal cord, traumatic brain and burns) afford critical but uninsured medical care through fundraising guidance, patient resources and support, as well as financial and other resources.

For more information contact Rabbi Debrah Shenefelt at e-mail: dshenefelt@att.net.