A Nashville nonprofit founded by a four-time cancer survivor is turning a rooftop stage into a fundraising engine for local breast cancer patients. A Cause to Rock will host a Journey tribute concert on Monday, October 12, at Skydeck in downtown Nashville, with proceeds going directly to Tennessee families struggling to pay bills during cancer treatment.
A Cause to Rock was founded by Brian Russell Collins, an accomplished drummer who has survived four cancer diagnoses and is now five years in remission, according to WSMV. Collins also lost his mother and sister to cancer within months of each other, a loss that pushed him to start the nonprofit as a way to funnel music industry connections directly into financial relief for patients. Monday's concert will feature backing musicians who tour with some of country and rock's biggest names, including Jake Summers of Luke Combs's band, Mark Annino of Morgan Wallen's band, and Robin Diaz of Puddle of Mudd, per the station's report. The broader lineup also draws players from the touring outfits of Aerosmith, Jason Aldean, Dylan Marlowe, Chase Rice, and Dylan Scott, according to Do615.
From a Pickup Jam to an Annual Nashville Benefit
The concert series, known as A Cause to Rock's Fight for Nashville benefit, has included a 2024 Van Halen tribute and a 2025 Aerosmith tribute, according to the organization's Givebutter fundraising page. Collins has said the nonprofit plans to expand nationally after building its base in Nashville, per WSMV's reporting.
This year's show returns to Skydeck, the open-air rooftop venue on Level 3 of Assembly Food Hall at Fifth + Broadway, which can hold up to 1,300 people, according to Assembly Food Hall. Collins, who leads the effort as the nonprofit's CEO, has said patients will receive whatever financial help they need, the station reports.
Where the Money Goes
Proceeds from the concert benefit local cancer patients facing financial hardship through the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition, specifically its Emergency Access Fund. That fund helps cover bills, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, and health insurance premiums for breast cancer patients during active treatment, WSMV reports. Founded in 1995, the coalition operates as a statewide grassroots organization focused on direct emergency relief, public education, and legislative advocacy, according to Tennessee Pathfinder.
The Emergency Access Fund, established in 2002, is structured to send payments directly to creditors — landlords, utility providers, and healthcare facilities — rather than handing cash to patients, ensuring the money goes straight toward critical living expenses. Since its founding, the fund has distributed more than $1.21 million in direct financial relief to 1,792 breast cancer patients and their families across the state, according to the Smith County Insider. To qualify, applicants must have lived in Tennessee for at least a year, keep household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, and be undergoing active treatment, per the same outlet.
A Statewide Burden That Keeps Growing
WSMV reports that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. National data from the American Cancer Society also shows overall U.S. breast cancer incidence rates have climbed roughly 1% per year in recent years, with a faster 1.4% annual rise among women under 50.
Cancer can also bring financial strain. As WSMV notes, a cancer diagnosis can cause physical, mental, and financial pain all at once — the exact combination A Cause to Rock is aiming to ease through its concert series, which the nonprofit says uses music to raise money that directly affects cancer patients in Nashville.
