2 new bands on bill for 5th annual Rock Against Cancer in Pine

There’s a new lineup and a new venue this year for a cancer survivor’s annual fundraiser for a Pittsburgh-based support organization.

The fifth annual Rock Against Cancer, benefiting Cancer Bridges, will be held Sept. 20 at the new Friends of Pine Amphitheater at Pine Community Park in Pine.

It was held last year at Dough Daddy Brewery in West Deer, about a month later in October.

The Pine amphitheater is about a mile from the home of event founder Mike Fitzgerald, who was diagnosed on his 25th birthday with advanced stage Hodgkin’s disease. Now 60, he considers himself cured.

“It’s a wonderful facility,” he said. “There’s a giant covered pavilion in case of inclement weather. I think it’s a really good venue that’s close to the turnpike and 79.”

While Fitzgerald works running Frontiers, a high-end leisure travel company, his hobby is music, playing bass guitar in his band, The Hip Waders, one of three that will be performing.

Also slated to perform are Stealing Time and The Altered Egos. The Hip Waders and Stealing Time are classic rock, while The Altered Egos is more rock and some pop from the ’90s on, Fitzgerald said.

There will be food in addition to the music. The $60 per person suggested donation includes a full meal from Las Chicas Mexican food truck and two drinks from The Typsy Gypsy wine and beer truck.

Over its four years, Rock Against Cancer has raised more than $21,000 for Cancer Bridges, with about $7,500 raised last year. Fitzgerald is hoping to exceed $10,000 this year.

He has been involved with cancer support since 1994. He was on the board of the Cancer Caring Center, which in 2021 merged with Our Clubhouse to form Cancer Bridges, where he is on the board and executive committee.

“It’s always been very important to me to be involved with these people,” he said. “They do such an outstanding job providing free support services to cancer patients and their families in the Pittsburgh region.”

Bringing people together around music in a community setting is very similar to the programming and feeling that Cancer Bridges offers, said Stephanie Ciranni, its executive director.

“Mike is an extremely passionate individual with a very giving heart,” she said. “I’m very grateful he’s stayed engaged with us as long as he has. The fundraising they do allows us to do what we do.”

A nonprofit based in the Strip District, Cancer Bridges offers free programs and services — including one-on-one counseling, support groups, workshops, lectures and social activities — to anybody impacted by cancer.

The money raised will go directly back to its programs and services, allowing it to serve more people, Ciranni said.

“We really have something for everyone depending on what they’re interested in participating in,” Ciranni said.

While the location for Rock Against Cancer has changed every year, Fitzgerald said it may now stay at the Pine amphitheater.

“I think it’s going to stay in Pine,” he said. “It’s a really nice place with tons of parking.”

While tickets are available in advance, they are not required.

“It should be a really fun autumn evening listening to some great music in support of a wonderful organization,” he said. “Anybody that has any cancer diagnosis in their families should give consideration to attending.”