Community Comes Together for Seymour Benefit

On January 21, news of Ryan Seymour's death rocked the small community of Greenback to its very foundation. After all, he was just 17 and a very well-known youth around the area. Ryan was a star football player and had a promising future. Everything changed in the blink of an eye, when Seymour and three other passengers from Greenback High School wrecked on Calderwood Highway after being thrown from their vehicle. All were injured, but Ryan later passed away. It is hard to believe that a light, which shined so brightly, could be snuffed out so quickly.

The community's reaction to the youth's passing was one of extreme support for the family. Right away, they set up a way people can make donations to the family via Regions Bank Ryan Seymour Foundation. Also they held The Seymour Family Benefit on January 29th from 4-7pm at Greenback High School. The benefit included a silent auction, cake walk, live music, chili dinner & desserts in the lunch room, baked goods, and a slide show of Ryan. They were also selling memorial t-shirts.

The silent auction was a huge success and many thanks goes out to the companies and individuals who made it possible. There were items such as: Braces from start to finish by Turner Orthodontics,4 tickets to Comedy Barn and $30 Tony Roma's Gift Card from See Pigeon Forge, Wilderness of the Smokies family passes, 3 UT game tickets for 2 people, UT football coach & basketball coach autographed items, diamond pendant necklace, ladies Swiss watch, MHS State Champ autographed football, free oil change certificates, stained glass large picture, fresh water pearl necklace, professional photography $100 gift certificate, and so MUCH MORE!

The benefit was a huge success. Greenback showed that they both a community of personal strength in time of need and a place of caring. The most obvious "benefit" from the event was learning that Ryan was not considered just a member of their community, but as a member of their families.

Check out pictures of the event on our Facebook site at http://www.facebook.com/#!/SeePigeonForgeTN and remember to donate to Regions Bank Ryan Seymour Foundation.