CHARLES TOWN – Friends of a local couple whose young son recently passed away are planning a memorial concert to help raise funds to cover medical and funeral expenses.

“You’ve got to help neighbors out, period,” said Jefferson County Clerk Jennifer Maghan.

Maghan is a personal friend of Christie Pace, whose 3-year-old son, Christopher, died in July following a near drowning incident. He was hospitalized and placed on life support, before later being declared brain dead.

Maghan said that during one of her trips to visit Christopher in the hospital, she heard people talking about the high cost of intensive care units like the one where Christopher spent his final days.

She and others wanted to help with those bills. She said she started talking with other friends and musicians about hosting a benefit concert to raise funds for the family.

“How tragic it is, not only to lose your child, but after you start feeling some sort of normalcy, you start having bills come in,” she said Tuesday.

Maghan said the Christopher Pace Memorial Benefit Concert is slated to take place from 4 to 7 p.m. this Sunday at the Charles C. Marcus Football Field, located behind Kohl’s in Ranson.

The concert is expected to feature the music of The Exotic Groove Band, of which Maghan is a member. Bob Williams, John Turner and Chris Crawford also are scheduled to perform, as is a group from the Pace’s church, the Harvest Point Christian Community Praise Band.

Those who attend the concert are asked to make a contribution to the Christopher Pace Memorial Fund.

Moonbounces from Great Inflates also will be available for both children and adults to enjoy, Maghan said. Attendees will be able to purchase a $5 wrist band to use the moon bounces for the concert’s full three hours. These funds also will go toward medical and funeral expenses, she said.

Community Alternatives to Violence, a local group that aims to eradicate domestic violence, also will be on hand that day. Maghan and Pace are active members of the group, will sell hot dogs and sodas for $1 each.

Throughout the event, Maghan said public service announcements will be given about the importance of water safety.

“It’s just so important,” she said. “We don’t want this to happen again in our county.”

Maghan said she remembers Christopher as a bright child. Both she and her own two sons were grateful for the chance to have known him.

“He was just an awesome little kid,” she said. “He just had energy. It was just a blessing to know him for the short time that we did.”

She hopes that as many people as possible will turn out for Sunday’s event and get the chance to contribute to a good cause, while also having a good time.

“It’s going to be a fun day for everyone if they come out. We’re praying for sunshine and good weather,” she said.