Lovin’ Life Festival to benefit paralyzed Holyoke residentDate: 9/12/2011 HOLYOKE On July 16, 2010, Patrick J. Shanahan of Holyoke was shot and paralyzed during a robbery while vacationing in Cape Cod. Shanahan has called this event life changing but not one that will ever stop him from lovin’ life.
The second annual Lovin’ Life Festival, a benefit golf tournament and concert for Shanahan, will take place on Sept. 17 at Holyoke Country Club, 2 Country Club Road. Proceeds will be used to help Shanahan with his medical expenses, personal supplies, occupational therapy and mobility and accessibility equipment.
The golf tournament will begin at 9 a.m. with music that will be playing throughout the day. That’s right, festival organizers are breaking the traditional silence that golfers have upheld for centuries. In honor of Lovin’ Life, organizers are trying to combine the elements that make people smile: golf, music, good people, and a few beverages to help celebrate halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.
The first nine holes will be a scramble and the back nine will be a bramble. Prizes will be determined and rare raffles will be available.
The lunch break will take place between 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. with the band Rebirth playing for entertainment. Hotdogs and cheeseburgers will be served and there will be a limited menu available in the clubhouse. There will be cash bar all day with a free keg out on the course.
At 1:30 p.m., the back nine will be played accompanied by some acoustic music echoing through the Mt. Tom Range.
As golfers are finishing up the back nine, The Equalites will be playing some Reggae music for happy hour.
Dinner will be served between 5:30 and 7 p.m., along with an open mic, local musicians and comedians for entertainment. Following that, The Whipjacks start at 8 p.m. and they play Grateful Dead.
The complete lineup of music is as follows: Rebirth from noon to 1:30 p.m.; Erin from the Wind Acoustic from 2 to 3:30 p.m.; Equalites from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; Open Jam from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; and The Whipjacks from 8 p.m. until close.
Golfer registration is full, however, those who want to attend the music festival may do so for a cost of $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the event. Advance tickets are available at Holyoke Liquor Mart, Nick’s Nest, Brennan’s and Highland Tap.
Monetary donations by check can be made out to Patrick Shanahan Benefit and sent to The Shanahans, 185 North Main St., Suffield, CT 06078.
For more information, call Shanahan at 250-0223.

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