UPDATE: 10:26 p.m. 4/19/07 Righteous Movement won first prize in the competition. California Kid placed second.

Helping a good cause is something that many people want to do, but it is all too easy to shy away from doing hard work to contribute. Thursday, there will be an easy way for students to contribute to two organizations that will help cancer patients and improve hospitals – by attending a concert on campus.

Ticket sales from Sacramento State’s first Battle of the Bands, to be held at 6:30 p.m. in the University Union Ballroom, will be donated to the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Children’s Miracle network. The tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students. The event will both entertain and help the two causes.

The Huntsman Cancer Institute is an organization that researches faster ways to cure cancer during the beginning stages. The Children’s Miracle Network focuses on making improvements in healthcare. The Children’s Miracle Network is a nationwide organization that has been working toward its goal since 1983 and has 170 hospital associates all over the country.

Sigma Chi put together this event by working with UNIQUE Programs. Actively involved are Sigma Chi members Jeff Robinson and Adam Schermerhorn. Schermerhorn, a sophomore criminal justice major, thought up this event with fellow Sigma Chi member Christian Anger. Their first idea included raising money for VH1’s “Save the Music” charity. He found a replacement idea through research, and Schermerhorn said he chose the Huntsman Institute because it is the biggest cancer research center in the world.

Schermerhorn said after being turned down three times, Sigma Chi, with assertion, made a plan with UNIQUE to cast 10 bands for the event. All bands had to reach the criteria of at least two Sac State student members and pay a fee of $50.

“Robinson and I have been working with UNIQUE and other organizations to make this event successful,” Schermerhorn said.

Schermerhorn said that 20 bands turned in applications to perform, but they had to limit the entries to 10 bands. Each band will play three original songs and a cover song, giving them about 15 minutes of stage time.

The first-place winner will receive a $500 gift card to Guitar Center and will play a nooner at Sac State this fall. The second-place winners will win a spot to perform at Chico State this fall.

Some of the judges for the event will include volunteers from UNIQUE and Chico State’s equivalent program, Associated Students Presents, as well as an editor from The State Hornet.

One of the bands performing is Ember Sky. Ember Sky has three members who are Sac State students. Drummer Rod Baybayan, a sophomore mechanical engineer major, guitarist Andrew Franco, a sophomore accounting major and guitarist Vilasen Govender, a junior accounting major. Ember Sky’s vocalist is Ryan Peterson, and the band does not have a bassist.

Baybayan said his band was excited to be chosen out of the 20 bands and he can not wait to make a difference by performing.

Baybayan said his band is playing “Change” by the Deftones as its cover song. Ember Sky has been together for about two years and frequents the Underground, a venue located in Roseville. Baybayan said his band looks forward to playing for the first time on campus.

Some of the other groups performing include hip-hop ensemble Righteous Movement, mellow, melodic rock group California Kid and funk/jazz group Purdy Lane.

Schermerhorn said he plans on doing this event every year until he graduates. “Not only is it fun organizing the battle of the bands, it has also been a really big learning experience for me,” he said. People can also make extra donations for the causes at the event.

Camilla Aceves can be reached at [email protected]