Local musician Jeff Burrows had to think outside the box, but his annual fundraiser is ready to go virtual Saturday.
The 14th annual Jeff Burrows Drum Marathon had to be cut in half due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but 11 artists will play over 12 hours of music via the LiUNA Bluesfest Windsor YouTube Channel.
Burrows had to postpone the event several times, but after figuring out how to get things done with physical distancing, he's ready to go.
"We could still get by and pre-record it and that's what we've done in order to present the half marathon," he says.
The event usually raises money through things like raffles and silent auctions at Good Time Charley's, but that's not possible with the pandemic.
Burrows decided sponsorships were the way to go and set a modest goal of getting 12.
"Low and behold Windsor-Essex steps up again and we ended up selling 22 sponsorships as opposed to the 12, so we've had to double up a couple hours and it's been fantastic," added Burrows.
Last year the event raised more than $54,000, so Burrows set a goal of raising about half that total with the current situation.
He says they've already raised more than $30,000 heading into Saturday's online concert.
"Windsor and Essex County is so very generous and I'm not just saying that because everyone says that about their community, but they really are," he says.
The Jeff Burrows 1/2 Marathon has raised more than $300,000 for the Windsor-Essex branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Harmony in Action, House of Sophrosyne, In Honour of the Ones We Love and Maryvale since its inception.
It runs on the Bluesfest Windsor YouTube Channel from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and donations will be accepted online.
— with files from AM800's Rob Hindi.