SUFFIELD, CONN. -- A local musician will perform fourteen hour long concerts back-to-back to raise funds supporting research for a cure for pulmonary fibrosis.

The piano marathon by Daniel Kerry Kehoe, starting at 8 a.m. Friday morning, November 21 and continuing until 10 p.m., will feature hourly changing musical styles that include Broadway tunes, fifties music, patriotic, inspirational, classical, and popular numbers. Kehoe will perform continuously on piano, keyboard, and a variety of other musical instruments with only a short break at the close of each hour. During the marathon several soloists from the Around Town Singers, which Kehoe directs, will join in the musical presentation. Each hour Kehoe will invite the audience members to request favorite selections. It is estimated that between 150 and 200 songs will be performed, almost all without sheet music, which is Kehoe’s personal goal.

Inspiration for the marathon came from Kehoe’s desire to do something positive about his father’s illness. Pulmonary fibrosis, commonly called "hardening of the lungs," presently has no cure and can affect people of any age. Little is known about the disease, how it strikes, or the best course of treatment. Kehoe hopes money raised at the marathon will help find a cure.

The musical marathon will take place at the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association at
205 Bridge Street. The large carpeted training room of this new facility will be turned into a concert venue seating 80 people with special lighting and comfortable places for listeners to sit and enjoy the music or just reflect and meditate. Listeners are encouraged to make a free will donation at the door. Plans are in place to stream the concert over the internet so people at work or home as well as Kehoe’s parents in Illinois can enjoy the music remotely.

Kehoe is a pianist, organist, composer, and arranger who has performed since childhood. He is a nationally known carillonneur, retiring recently after 25 years as Trinity College’s first appointed bell player of the chapel tower’s 49-bell instrument. In his community, Kehoe is a lieutenant with the ambulance and, as a volunteer EMT for 27 years, is also their longest serving member. To honor his service, SVAA personnel will assist friends and family members who have offered to provide refreshments to listeners.

A special appearance by nationally known performer and past Ventriloquist of the Year Judy Buch will kick off the evening portion of the marathon. Several of Buch’s puppets will sing to Kehoe’s accompaniment, and Buch will perform a special "dueling pianos" piece with Kehoe.