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Group sponsors benefit concert

The Star Democrat - 5/18/2017

ST. MICHAELS - Marita's Movers is sponsoring a benefit concert featuring Charles "Bo" Grant, accompanied by Comfort Zone.

The concert is to benefit Marita Murray Hayward.

Hayward is from McDaniel and has spent her life in the Bay Hundred area. Her daughter Danielle Tapp-Hynson said her mother was stricken with Multiple Sclerosis suddenly in 2006 and now relies on a wheelchair.

"She was always so active," Tapp-Hynson said. "Always on the go."

Hayward was the oncology tumor registrar at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and Tapp-Hynson said she loved her job immensely.

Tapp-Hynson said her mom loves to help people, and does not let the MS stop her from helping others.

"She (Hayward) attends every meeting for MS in the area," Tapp-Hynson said. "If someone is newly diagnosed or struggling, my mom is always there to help them through it."

She said her mother started a group called Marita's Movers and each year the group raises money for National Multiple Sclerosis Society and participates in the walks. Over the years, Marita's Movers has raised over $40,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Tapp-Hyson said that this year the group wanted to help the one person who helps everyone else - her mom.

Due to the MS, Hayward is confined to her wheelchair and her physical condition makes everyday tasks extremely challenging. Her sole provider and caregiver is her husband Al Hayward. Tapp-Hynson said the day-to-day activities are hard on the Haywards.

"Her husband has to lift her from the wheelchair and into the car daily," said Tapp-Hynson. "Being her sole caregiver is physically and financially difficult for him."

To help them make life a little easier, Tapp-Hynson has started a campaign to raise $40,000 to purchase the Hay-wards a new or used wheelchair van.

"The wheelchair van would give my mother more freedom when traveling," Tapp-Hynson said. "Making it easier to get to medical appointments, and take the burden of constantly having to lift her off of her husband."

Tapp-Hynson set up a Go-FundMe page for her mom and so far has raised $1,500. She said they also held a bake sale in St. Michaels that did very well.

But they are still very short of that $40,000 goal and in an effort to close the gap the group has put together the benefit concert.

The benefit concert will be 7 p.m., Saturday, June 10, at at the St. Michaels Middle/High School Auditorium.

Grant is donating his time for the event and all proceeds will be used to assist Marita and Al Hayward with the purchase of a van that is wheel chair accessible.

Charles "Bo" Grant was the last performer to replace an original member of the world renowned Platters. He has appeared with such greats as Nat King Cole, the Righteous Brothers, Wilson Picket, the Drifters and many more.

Tickets for the concert are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

For more information about the concert or to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/maritasmobility- van-fund or email Vernon Murray at retired@atlanticbb.net, or contact Deborah Murray at 410-829-0392, or Danielle Tapp-Hynson at 410-829-1056.

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