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A Ticket to Ride is a Ticket to Health

OLD SAYBROOK - After her husband committed suicide, Kathy MacDonald found few answers why, but in her pain she found a path to healing-and now she's committed to ensuring that path is well-marked for others.

For MacDonald, it was the caring and compassionate family of the Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services (OSYFS) agency that helped her find solace and a healing path.

Since the tragedy, she has worked with Heather McNeil of OSYFS and other community leaders working on building community awareness of where anyone struggling to cope with life's crises can seek help. One outcome of the group's efforts has been a new brochure listing community services and agencies and how residents can access them.

This work has meaning and purpose for MacDonald. She never wants a resident facing overwhelming personal challenges to not know where to turn for help. That's why she also decided to organize a special fundraising event to benefit the OSYFS' agency's mental health and preventions services programs.

Beatles tribute band Ticket to Ride will play a benefit concert on Friday, April 26 at the Old Saybrook Middle School starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20; the concert is targeted for those aged 15 and older. The tickets are for sale at Old Saybrook High School, Sweet Luna's, Esty's, Essex Golf and Sportswear, and at the Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services agency on Main Street.

Funds raised will support programs including work to bring in special speakers on prevention topics for youth and for the community.

What made MacDonald think of bringing Ticket to Ride to town as the focus for this benefit event?

"When I thought about The Beatles's music, I thought about the song's line 'We get by with a little help from our friends.' This event will provide that help by raising money for mental health awareness and prevention programs of Youth and Family Services," said MacDonald.

The Ticket to Ride concert will include two musical sets with one focused on the music of the album Abbey Road and the other on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

For more information about the program or OSYFS, call 860-395-2907 or email

yfs@town.old-saybrook.ct.us.