If no one knows my son, I will introduce him to you. His name is Geoffrey Roberts and he is a 37-year-old Natchez native who returned from the Mississippi Delta because of a debilitating kidney disease. Upon graduating from Natchez High School in 1995, he attended Delta State University. He graduated there and became involved in the world of music. He joined a band and later went to work for a stage production company, enduring long hours on the road setting up stages and sound systems for concerts. As quoted by one of his Kappa Sigma Fraternity brothers, “He is a musician and roadie who has obtained no material wealth but is worth a million in stories and good will.”

In November 2012, Geoffrey was diagnosed with kidney failure and discovered he is in need of a kidney transplant. Since beginning peritoneal dialysis, he has been trying to live life to the fullest. His dialysis is performed at night with a machine which frees up his days. In recent days he has been able to become an ordained minister and performed the wedding of his youngest brother. As you can see, my son wears a coat of many colors.

Now he needs community support. He needs our help to raise funds for travel and day-to-day expenses that are not covered by insurance. Since undergoing many tests at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, we have found out he is a good candidate for a transplant. Once the kidney transplant takes place, he will have to stay in Birmingham for at least a month or more.

This is where you, the public, come in. On Sept. 7, mark your calendars as there will be a Benefit Poker Run at the Steel Horse Saloon, “Biking for Buddha”; Buddha being Geoffrey’s nickname acknowledged by most of his friends and family. This event will have an auction, raffles, poker run, T-shirts and jambalaya dinners for sale. For entertainment that evening, Geoffrey will reunite with his band “Number Two with Me and Hugh.”

Jambalaya dinners will be served starting at 11 a.m. The Poker Run will leave Steel Horse Saloon at noon Raffles and auctions will be when bikers return. The band will play that evening.

Consider this, you, our Natchez community, the invitation to extend our lives and support for Geoffrey in his journey to wellness. If anyone would like to consider being a donor, please feel free to contact us.

Sue Clark is the mother of Geoffrey Roberts