For the friends, family and loved ones of Richard "Digger" Bloom, the April 9, "Jamming for Digger" concert at Andreas Sporting Hall was an outstanding jammin' time for all involved. Kelly Fisher assisted with securing the use of the hall for free the evening of the event.

Bloom, 44, was injured July 23 in a swimming pool accident in his backyard - an injury that broke his neck causing him to become paralyzed below his neck. While Digger can't move from his chest down, he feels gratitude, love and pride that his family and friends put on a great show in his honor.The concert included six live bands, Evolution Breakdown, Surprise Valley,

A.D.D., Blunt, Screaming Sunday and Second Hand Band. There was constant music from 4 to 10 p.m., food and plenty of comradery throughout the event.A special part of the concert was when Digger's friend, Matt McGeehan, a member of

A.D.D. used Digger's guitar to play a song.With Bloom seriously injured, his family was hit by astronomical medical bills, which will increase as he tries to continue with life and return home to his family. The $16,000 in proceeds from the event will be used to pay unpaid medical bills and toward the purchase of a handicapped accessible van.Organizing the event were his sisters, Robin Diehl and Roxanne Berger and her husband, Gerry Berger, and brothers, Rob Bloom and Ronnie Bloom.His sister, Roxanne, said that the event included 106 big and beautiful baskets and drawings. Over 300 people attended the event. She noted there were T-shirts, printed with the names of the bands and sponsors were sold, plus there was a lot of food sold donated. Sponsors for the event were Architectural Polymers, Berger Painting Service, Glenn's Tile Works, Goldberg's Plumbing and Heating, C.G. Kerschner Trucking, Mobile Edge, Matola's Paving, Printing 4-U by D&L Koch, Uncle Bugs, Wentz Car Care, Bloom's Lawn Care, LABC and Pizza Como USA."Digger had an active life before the accident," said Berger. "He was active in all sorts of sports, wrestling, football and baseball," she said.Since his accident, Bloom has spent time at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital and at Mountain City Rehab as an outpatient."While the accident was devastating, it has brought my family closer," said Berger. "We're stronger than we ever were before."Before his accident, Digger worked for Werner Trucking, Fogelsville as a shop manager. He is the husband of Joyce (Hansler) Bloom.