Concert Telethon Aims To Raise Money For Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief

WYMT — a television station based in Hazard, Kentucky, about 90 miles west of West Virginia — will host a flood relief concert telethon from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to raise money for flood relief efforts in eastern Kentucky.

The event aims to raise $250,000 in donations, which WYMT aims to distribute to families, farms, businesses and nonprofits in eastern Kentucky with support from the Foundation for Appalachia Kentucky, an economic development and relief organization.

The funds will be distributed through a grant application process for those affected by flash flooding in February, which claimed at least 27 lives between West Virginia and Kentucky and caused significant property and infrastructure damage.

Entitled “Appalachia Rising Above,” the concert will be co-hosted by mixed martial artist Rich “Ace” Franklin and country music duo Halfway to Hazard, and will also include a silent auction.

The telethon will feature in-person performances from Halfway To Hazard, Nicholas Jamerson, Taylor Austin Dye, Tyra Madison, Cory Michael Harris and Lucy Becker. The show will also include virtual appearances from Lee Greenwood, RICOCHET, T. Graham Brown, John Berry, Alex Miller and more.

The program will be televised on WYMT, WKYT and several Gray Media television stations. Residents can donate online, and participate in the silent auction online or over the phone by texting “FLOOD25” to 76278.

For more information on Foundation for Appalachia Kentucky’s flood relief efforts, visit the organization’s website.