Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Big crowd comes to help Crawley

Marc Crawley, 24-year-old youth pastor at the First Baptist Church of Gurdon, was the honored guest Saturday night of a benefit barbecue and gospel singing.

Brian Clark, a friend of Crawley's and local gospel singer, organized the benefit, with all donations and profits going to the Marc Crawley cancer fund.

Crawley, a Gurdon High School graduate and meat cutter, was been diagnosed with cancer in his left leg and will undergo chemotherapy and surgery this summer at Children's Hospital in Little Rock.

Crawley said Saturday night, "I really appreciate the efforts of everyone who has come out and wants to help with the medical expenses. I have no medical insurance.

"My chemotherapy is on June 29 and the leg bone will have to be surgically replaced in August."

Clark told the crowd there were way to many people who sang and helped with the benefit to thank them all by name.

"We have called upon the name of Jesus Christ for Marc to receive his healing and we are being there for him and his family as they go through this cancer treatment," Clark said.

Dozens of gospel groups and individuals took the stage for more than three hours. In addition, a slide presentation of Marc's life was displayed. Highly involved with FFA, fairs and animals, many of the scenes were of Crawley's winning moments and times spent with family and friends.

Somewhere between 200 and 300 well wishers attended the benefit at the GHS cafetorium.

For those who missed it, donations are still being accepted through a Marc Crawley cancer fund at US Bank in Gurdon.

Crawley said, "I am very grateful this is the type of cancer that can be treated, as I look forward to still being around."