Children’s of Alabama’s 11th Annual Boots & BBQ Barn Bash

Children’s of Alabama’s Boots & BBQ Barn Bash kicks off Sunday, November 17, 2024, to benefit the Children’s of Alabama Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic in Mobile. Guests are invited to enjoy an evening of live music, line dancing, and dinner provided by Moe’s Original BBQ, located at 701 Spring Hill Ave.

Festivities start at 6:30 p.m., featuring music by Fat Lincoln and award-winning barbecue for dinner. With the usual fashion flair, guests are encouraged to dust off their cowboy boots and join us for a night of fun and support for local children suffering from autoimmune disorders.

The Boots & BBQ Barn Bash, presented by Children’s of Alabama and Rheum4y’AL, is proud to honor Ava Mendenhall this year. Ava was diagnosed with psoriatic juvenile idiopathic arthritis at 8 years old on March 18, 2024, coincidentally World Juvenile Arthritis Day.

A talented dancer from Mobile, Ava has been dancing since she was 2 and is part of Sheffield’s School of the Dance’s national award-winning team. With the care of Dr. Melissa Mannion, a pediatric rheumatologist at Children’s of Alabama, Ava continues to pursue her passion while managing her condition. Her family remains hopeful for a cure.

Proceeds from the Boots & BBQ Barn Bash will provide funding for Dr. Mannion’s clinic in Mobile to treat the many children along the Gulf Coast suffering from autoimmune disorders such as pediatric rheumatoid arthritis. These children face a grueling eight-hour journey just to receive their necessary treatment in Birmingham.

The Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic at Children’s of Alabama diagnoses and treats children with autoimmune disorders including juvenile arthritis, lupus, myositis, scleroderma, and various vasculitides. Clinical research aims to optimize the treatment of juvenile arthritis through diverse projects and relies on fundraisers like the Boots & BBQ Barn Bash to make this possible. For sponsorship information, please contact Kerrie Benson, the Gulf Coast coordinator for Children’s of Alabama, at [email protected] or 251-610-4969.

Admission is $40 per person. To register online, visit http://give.childrensal.org/BarnBash. Further updates can also be found on the event’s Facebook page, [Boots & BBQ Barn Bash].