‘Idol’-inspired fundraiser for kids with cancer

A year ago, east Cobb’s Emily Roach had to do community service in advance of her bat mitzvah.

But instead of just volunteering a few hours at a charity, the 12-year-old wanted to go bigger. She was already active with the Atlanta-based Rally Foundation, which raises funds for childhood cancer research. She also loved “American Idol.”

She thought she could merge those two into a concert fundraiser featuring cancer survivors as singers.

Her dream is coming to fruition Friday at the Buckhead Theatre in a show featuring four kids with cancer and a sibling of an 11-year-old girl who died of bone cancer.

Better yet, she was able to procure four past “American Idol” finalists as judges: season four runner-up and Covington resident Bo Bice, Georgia native and season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina, season four fourth-place finalist Anthony Fedorov and season 10 third-place singer Haley Reinhart.

Emily tracked Bice down at an art show last year in Canton. She personally handed the rock singer a four-page, handwritten invite letter.

He bought in immediately. “She didn’t send an email or a tweet,” Bice said in an interview. “She wrote a letter!”

Bice — who splits his time as a solo artist and lead vocalist of the jazz-rock band Blood, Sweat and Tears — not only agreed to be a judge but also took on duties as co-producer and promoter. And he persuaded his friends Fedorov and Reinhart to join in. (One of the singers participating in the show, Tori Svenson, knew Alaina personally and invited her.)

“Emily has a great vision. And I have deep respect for the parents of these kids who have cancer,” said Bice, who has four kids himself. “To see the resilience of the children going through chemo. They keep the parents going.”

Emily, with help from the Rally Foundation and her parents Alyson and Shane, has already sold 600 tickets and raised $35,000. Nearly $20,000 is from sponsors and another $15,000 from an online media campaign that resulted in donations from as far away as North Dakota and Texas. The Roach family is thinking this could be an annual event.

“It’s crazy what they’ve done,” said Dean Crowe, the Rally Foundation CEO and founder.

The foundation gives grants to cancer researchers focused on curing childhood cancer.

During the concert, people in the audience will be encouraged to vote for singers using a special app. Each vote will represent a $10 donation. So like “Idol” itself, ballot stuffing is encouraged. The big difference: “There are no winners and losers,” said Mark Owens, the emcee. “Everyone’s a winner. This is a celebration of life.”