Rock for Big Kev Benefit

Join us at Merlin’s Bar & Grill for an epic show in support of our friend Kevin Mikkelsen known around Whistler as ‘Big Rockn’ Kev’, who is living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Get ready to rock out with live performances from some of Whistler’s most talent musicians and bands. It’s going to be a night filled with great music, good vibes, and awesome company. So grab your friends and let’s show Big Kev some Whistler love!

Our goal is to raise some funds to help support Big Kev’s quality of life living with primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS).

Funds raised will be used to purchase much needed equipment and furniture, and to ease the financial burden as he can no longer work. There will be fundraising activities (raffle/auction) at the event and a GoFund Me campaign is also set up.

Doors 6:30PM • Show 7PM til late • Food Service til 9PM • 19+ at 9:30PM

Lineup includes:
Ruckus Deluxe • Taylor James • Rutherford Creek Collective • Stephen Vogler & The West Coast Front • Big Love • Red Chair • Plus DJs Foxy Moron & Vinyl Ritchie

All of the musicians are generously donating their time to play, XL Audio Visual is generously providing the production services, and Merlins and Whistler Blackcomb are generously supporting the event.

Please consider making a donation to support Big Kev!

BIG KEV’S STORY:

I am originally from Thornhill, Ontario, and have lived in Whistler since 2005. Over the past two decades, I have worked for Whistler Hardware, iHost, Black’s Pub, Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub, Whistler Question, Whistler Film Festival, The Point Artist Run Centre, and more. Whistler is my home, and my community. My goal is to stay here as long as I possibly can.

On September 27th, 2023, after nine months of gradually onsetting symptoms, including a 10 day visit with the lovely folks in the neurology department at LionsGate Hospital, I was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

With MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers, known as myelin. This interrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body.

My current symptoms include numbness/tingling in my hands and feet, electric-shock sensations that happen with certain neck movements, lack of dexterity and coordination, trouble with walking and balance, weakness on my right side, vertigo, bowel and bladder function issues, fatigue, and troubles with memory, thinking and brain fog.

As the original symptoms slowly presented themselves to me, l added a cane to help maintain my stability when l walked. At the end of my 10-day visit with neurology, my parting gift was a 4-wheel walker. While this new addition to my daily routine helped make my mobility better, the MS was twisting my right foot, and as a result, l was walking on the side of my foot without realizing it. This developed a callous which became infected, necessitating a 60 day and a 50 day stay at Lions Gate Hospital, split by a 25 day stint in at Squamish General.

My parting gift from my 50-day stretch was an offloading AFO Brace and a wheelchair. Walking is at a bare minimum now, and l rely on a power wheelchair for mobility.

Each day is a new adventure, with all my symptoms vying for attention, filled with ever-changing challenges. I believe the best that I can do is face each day and step up to the challenges before me as best I can. I am grateful for the support of my Whistler friends and community.

TICKETS