In its fourth year, Rokfest will continue to honor a lost friend while benefiting a good cause.
From 8 p.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, Gepetto’s Restaurant in Montesano will host the bands Six Pack Pretty and Stifler with all proceeds benefiting the South Pacific County Humane Society (a no-kill animal shelter) of Long Beach.
The event is named after Jeff “Rok” Sanford formerly of Aberdeen and a former member of Six Pack Pretty.
When Sanford died in 2011, the band wanted to memorialize him in some way.
“After Jeff’s death, we were left with a great hole to fill,” said Duke Harner, Six Pack Pretty drummer. “One of the things Jeff always found time for was his love of animals.”
Harner said Sanford used to shuttle animals to SPCHS so they wouldn’t be put to sleep, before local no-kill shelters existed.
“We were passing around ideas (about how to remember Sanford) and something was mentioned about the animal shelter and how much it meant to Jeff,” Harner said. “It was kind of a no-brainer from there.”
In its first year, Rokfest raised $600 for the shelter.
In the second year the event raised $1,100 and received donations of pet food and supplies.
Last year, $1,300 were raised plus food and supplies.
“As to why we aren’t doing anything for the shelters in Grays Harbor — when Jeff started shuttling animals to SPCHS, there wasn’t a no-kill shelter on the Harbor,” Harner said. “Since this is what he did and the lengths he went to, we wanted to continue that in his name.
“I would like to encourage anyone who like to hold an event for the Grays Harbor shelters or donate to them to do so.”
While the format will remain similar to previous years, with music and a raffle, this year will add another incentive to donate.
“For a $50 donation, we will play any song of your choice,” Harner said. “It could be anything from death metal to smooth jazz.”
A plaque currently hangs in the Long Beach shelter in honor of Sandford and the funds raised in his memory through the event.
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