ROCKINGHAM – The Richmond Senior High School Marching Raiders are planning to participate in the Conway, S.C., Christmas Parade on December 9. But in order to do so, band director Mike Ward is asking for the community’s help.
As this year will mark the parade’s 59th anniversary, the Marching Raiders need to rent charter buses for this trip. The expected cost to do so is over $3,000.
In order to achieve this goal, the band is asking for sponsors or donors to help it cover the costs. Leading the fundraising efforts is Raider Band Fans, a booster club for the Marching Raiders. For those able or willing to help in any way, they are encouraged to contact any of the following Raider Band Fans board members:
Randy “Booger” Stubbs – 910-995-8544
Gus Bellamy – 910-417-1804
Holly Bellanger – 910- 334-2942
Lisa McLendon – 910-361-8553
“The Conway Christmas Parade is a three and half mile parade, and it’s our third time going,” explained Stubbs. “The folks there really love the bands that are in the parade. There are about six or seven bands that march in it.
“The parade will be televised and on the web,” Stubbs continued. “The last time we went, we pulled up and you would have thought a college band was pulling up. The folks starting cheering and thanking us for coming before they even heard the band. Our kids really loved that. It gave them more courage to march in front of a bigger crowd than what they are used to in parade style marching.”
In explaining the importance for the need of sponsors for charter buses, Stubbs noted that they serve as a major convenience in assisting getting band members to the parade.
“We try and rent charter busses for them to ride in because the parade is so long we want them to be comfortable and well-rested when they get there,” Stubbs commented. “We take them to Broadway at the Beach to spend the rest of the day for all the hard work they have done in the season.
“They all have worked so hard this year and to me, it’s been the best group of kids that we have had in the past couple of years,” Stubbs concluded. “Mr. Ward has done an outstanding job working with them. This is our way of thanking them. We need all the help we can get on this. We will be thanking everyone that helps make this trip happen.”
