We hope you remember former native son Jim McCaffrey who for years covered our lives and our news up and down the Main Line and in Philadelphia via Main Line Times, Wayne & Suburban, Main Line Life and The Bulletin.

He helped give our local world and issues a voice and now he is facing a health crisis of some enormity and it is very serious. He has been diagnosed with MDS or Myelodysplastic syndrome.

MDS is a malignant disorder of the bone marrow. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 18,000 people develop MDS each year. MDS can affect all of the cells in our blood. MDS used to be called preleukemia due to the progression that is sometimes seen from MDS to leukemia.

Jim is going to need a bone marrow transplant. When he finds a bone marrow match he will go to Stanford University Hospital and live near the hospital for up to a year during treatment (chemotherapy, etc.) and recovery. He will require a aid to help him day in, day out – transportation, housecleaning, and so on and so forth.

His friends are paying it forward for Jim and a fundraiser to help him with the enormous costs he will be facing. The event is being held at 23 East thanks to the big heart and generosity of Joe Rufo.

The event will be Feb. 28 (snow date March 7) at Ardmore's 23 East. We will have the place to ourselves from 6-9 p.m with DJ Kevin Murphy. The doors open to the public at 9 p.m. for the band, which begins at 10 p.m.

There will be food and discounted drinks. $20 per person. Cash or checks only please. 21 and older only.

Hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, or need info about JUST making a donation, please feel free to e-mail