ACP is dedicated to speeding up research to cure MS and enabling those affected to live their best lives. Volunteers play a crucial role in this mission. Kaustubh Pandav, also known as “Stubhy,” is the lead singer of the Chicago rock band, Lucky Boys Confusion. Recently, Stubhy and his colleagues in the music industry donated their time and talents to raise funds for our work through the third annual MS Sucks: Singing for a Cure concert. Read more about Stubhy’s journey with MS and the success of this event!
Music plays a big role in Stubhy’s life, it is one of his greatest passions. At the end of 2015, he noticed he was having difficulty walking, as his leg began dragging and hitching. Over the next two years, Stubhy underwent extensive testing and tried various remedies, including chiropractic care, massage and physical therapy, but nothing worked. Eventually, his neurologist ordered an MRI which revealed lesions in his brain and spinal cord. On Black Friday 2018, while his wife was 3 months pregnant, Stubhy was diagnosed with MS. His insurance company declined coverage for the disease modifying therapy that is neurologist prescribed, insisting he try less expensive alternatives first. Stubhy immediately took action and sought out assistance from nonprofits and other MS organizations, and eventually, his treatment was approved.
“I was a poet before I realized I had a gift for melody. It’s my release, it’s my outlet, it’s my go-to when everything else is failing.” – Stubhy Pandav
“I didn’t have the chance to be sad because I had to get going. I had to work at getting myself better. Too many people in my situation would have folded their arms and said, ‘OK, this is the hand I’ve been dealt with the insurance company.’ There are other resources out there. You just have to fight because nobody else is going to fight for you…Luckily everything worked out, as much as it works out when you have MS. I’m very fortunate and have had great results.” -Stubhy Pandav
After doing extensive research into possible beneficiaries, Stubhy decided to give the proceeds of the concerts to ACP. In his words, “I wanted a charity that is focused on research and cures… ACP is a patient-founded organization fully focused on raising funds for a cure.”
Wanting to give back to the MS community, Stubhy has organized two MS Sucks: Singing for a Cure charity concerts in the past – one in 2019 and another in 2023 – raising a total of over $73,000. He shares, “When you tell people you have MS they don’t know what it is. We’re trying to raise awareness. We’re trying to let people know that this is a really horrible disease that people are living with and that we need to find a cure. There’s no light at the end of the tunnel here, so let’s find one. Music has given me a platform that I now can use for good. I want to raise money to find a cure. We want to kill this disease. We want people to be able to walk, to breathe, to think normally again. We need to find a cure.”
MS Sucks 2024 was held on Saturday, June 29th at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago. Over 400 people enjoyed this year’s show featuring performances by AM Taxi, the Super Happy Fun Club, The Dog and Everything, and Night Spice. This year’s concert raised another impressive total of over $30,000, bringing the grand total of monies raised from MS Sucks concerts to over $100,000! All of these proceeds were donated to ACP. For Stubhy, the concerts are successful in other ways, too. He states, “Music is the background of the event. It’s more about people coming together to raise awareness and raise some money for a cure… We raise thousands of dollars and sell hundreds of tickets, but the thing that makes me the proudest and makes me choke up a little bit is making a difference in people’s lives.”
This year’s concert attendees were given glowing, colored bracelets, each signifying their role. Orange bracelets were labeled “Warrior” for those with MS, blue ones said “Supporter” for family and friends affected, and green ones read “Champion” for those supporting the cause.
The concert included a raffle that raised over $3,600. Among the exciting prizes were an Audio Technica record player, several guitars (one signed by Mike Love of the Beach Boys), and other rare memorabilia. This year’s offerings also featured a variety of concert and comedy tickets, including tickets to Lucky Boy’s Confusion’s upcoming September show at the House of Blues, as well as gift cards for restaurants and tattoo parlors. In addition, MS Sucks t-shirts and sweatshirts were available for purchase during the show. All proceeds will support ACP’s work to advance MS research, with the goal of improving the health, healthcare, and quality of life for those affected by the disease.
Expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering dedication of the MS Sucks team:
Rebecca Abraham, Steve B, Lizz Lukes, Jenna Michals, Elijah Nelson, Stubhy Pandav, Lindsey Santiago, Dan Volz and Alex Zarek.
This year’s concert reached the hearts of many people in the MS community. Those in attendance felt the love and support that was the spirit of the event. ACP’s Development Associate, Lindsey Santiago, shares, “The concert overall is a very special event. I think my favorite part was speaking with other people who have MS and making those connections. Getting to meet committee members I had only met on Zoom is always wonderful. Being up on stage and people cheering while you’re in front of the crowd feels good.”
MS Sucks 2024 had a tremendous amount of support behind the scenes. Alex Zarek served as photographer throughout the event. Alex was also the chief graphic designer behind the MS Sucks merchandise. The raffle was a resounding success thanks to the efforts of Jenna Michals. We’d also like to extend a sincere thank you to our generous event sponsors: Curaleaf, the ATI Foundation, Plesio Health, Makowski’s Real Sausage, Chicago Chiropractic & Sports Injury Centers, the House of Music, and Ramzi & the Loafers. Special thanks to the Bottom Lounge for providing the event venue, to Mer Mansuria for a delicious backstage lunch for the crew, and to Steve B for treating everyone to home-brewed beer and for hosting the show.
Funds raised from events like these are crucial for advancing our mission to improve diagnosis, optimize treatment, and ultimately find a cure for MS. If you missed MS Sucks: Singing for a Cure 2024 and would still like to contribute, there’s still time to make a donation! Additionally, if you have a favorite activity that friends and family enjoy, or if you have a special talent you’d like to share, hosting your own fundraiser can be a fun way to engage your community while supporting ACP. For more information on organizing your own event, please visit our website, or contact Lindsey Santiago at lsantiago@acceleratedcure.org.
