91原创 musician Shawn Meehan was choking back tears as he and his band belted out Nobody鈥檚 Girl before a crowd of thousands this weekend.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a good thing I had shades on because that was a tough song to get through,鈥� Meehan shared.

He鈥檚 referring to the new song he recently penned and performed at the record-breaking Gone Country: Here for the Cure cancer fundraiser on Saturday.

He and his band, Me And Mae, were the second of six acts on stage at the charity concert at Cloverdale鈥檚 Millennium Park.

鈥淚 got to dedicate a new song to my mom,鈥� Meehan said.

鈥淢y mom [Patricia Niles] was so supportive of me pursuing music. Not once did she waiver in her dedication,鈥� he added.

鈥淭he song is sort of a tribute to modern independent woman鈥� and my mom was certainly one,鈥� he said.

It was a 鈥渟pecial moment,鈥� the Walnut Grove musician elaborated. 鈥淏ecause [Gone Country] is a cancer fundraiser, and like the promoters, I lost my mom to cancer in 2014.鈥�

This was Me And Mae鈥檚 first time on the Gone Country stage, but Meehan hopes it won鈥檛 be the last.

91原创 artists front and centre

Likewise, fellow 91原创 musician Karen Lee Batten also had a tear-filled moment or two during this weekend鈥檚 concert.

Standing stage right, just 30 seconds before going on, Batten said she was a little nervous because she was performing a number of new songs from her upcoming album. But moreover, she was emotional.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such an overwhelming experience to be part of something like this,鈥� she said, and the emotion 鈥� at least for a few moments 鈥� took hold.

She described it like having golf balls in her throat. Determined not to cry through her first song on stage, she had to pull aside for a moment and regroup.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such a terrible, awful disease, and we keep coming together to do something about it. It鈥檚 a good feeling,鈥� she said.

Unlike Me And Mae, Batten is not a Gone Country virgin. She has been part of the charity event since its inception 鈥� in front or behind the scenes.

While event founders Jamie and Chris Ruscheinski, a pair of philanthropic twins from 91原创, have been holding various types of fundraising concerts since their late teens, they were directed to talk to Batten when they started pondering the creation of a country concert.

鈥淚 was more than thrilled that they would ask me,鈥� she said of a chance not only to perform, but to assist with some of the organizing.

She鈥檚 been part of the show every year since, describing the Ruscheinski boys as 鈥渁mazing鈥� and particularly honoured to help raise money for such a worthy cause.

鈥淵ou just know the money is going to the right place,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a great feeling to be a part of this event鈥� as long as they ask me, I鈥檒l always be there.鈥�

Batten noted that her husband Mike Gardner 鈥� owner of Sammy J鈥檚 鈥� is also involved, behind the scenes, with every year鈥檚 show 鈥� on the food end, providing sustenance for all the VIPs.

鈥淓veryone鈥檚 heart is in the right place鈥� we鈥檙e all there, giving back and helping out,鈥� she added.

The couple laughed hysterically when they received a call from Chris about a week out from the fundraiser.

He wasn鈥檛 calling to confirm details for Gone Country 2017, as Batten expected. No. He was calling to ask if she and Mike would be part of 2018.

鈥淒ude, we haven鈥檛 even gotten through 2017,鈥� Batten told Chris. 鈥淏ut naturally, we鈥檒l see you again at Gone Country 2018.鈥�

Newbie touched by experience

Clayton Heights musician and one of the show鈥檚 headliners, Jojo Mason, took a few moments on stage to think of his grandmother 鈥� a special person in his life who he lost to colon cancer a few years back.

鈥淭here was a time when I was singing a song and I pretty much couldn鈥檛 get the words out鈥� but the crowd helped me out,鈥� Mason shared with the 91原创 Advance.

The 27-year-old hockey-player-turned singer-songwriter only broke onto the country music scene two summers ago, and has already enjoying his fourth Top Ten singles.

While Mason has performed across the country, including multiple shows in Vancouver, this was his first concert at home. In fact, he joked, it was close enough that he was able to walk home after the show.

The proximity to home also meant that many of his friends and family 鈥� several who have struggled directly or indirectly with cancer 鈥� were in the audience to cheer him on and at the same time help the cause.

鈥淚 think everybody has gone through some struggle with cancer, whether it be a family member, friend, or themselves,鈥� he said鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 awful. And I appreciate so much what Jamie and Chris are doing, what everyone鈥檚 doing. It鈥檚 a team effort, and to be able to be part of that鈥� I just appreciate the fact that they had me on the stage.鈥�

In addition to performing, was among a core group of volunteers who showed up the morning after to help clean up. And asked if he鈥檇 be back again to help, Mason said it would be an honour.

Organizers gush

It was an 鈥渦nforgettable鈥� year at Gone Country 2017, gushed Chris, one of the founders and ongoing event organizers.

In year five of the charity concert to raise money for cancer, the 91原创 twins managed to sell out this year鈥檚 show 鈥� meaning 5,000 people attended the fundraiser Saturday and helped raise more than half a million dollars, Chris explained.

鈥淎n absolutely incredible night,鈥� he said, describing the show that started mid-afternoon and carried on well into the night. ().

鈥淸We鈥檙e] just coming out of our coma now,鈥� Ruscheinski joked Monday, sharing the news of how much was generated.

鈥�$520,000 raised!鈥� he said, noting that Canuck Place in Abbotsford 鈥� their charity of choice for Gone Country for the second year running 鈥� will benefit greatly.

Last year鈥檚 show raised $344,000. This year鈥檚 goal was $366,000.

鈥淭o come out at $520,000 is pretty insane,鈥� Chris said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e over the moon happy.鈥�

The dollar announcement was made Sunday. After the cleanup spree at the park, a core group of about 40 volunteers gathered at Sammy J鈥檚 to celebrate 鈥渁 job incredibly well done鈥� and to rejoice in all that was accomplished.

It was during the after party, that the Ruscheinski boys announced the total. That was the most moving time for Chris, who said he could have just been 鈥渆xtra emotional鈥� because he was so tired.鈥�

鈥淭here were so many emotions when we announced the total to the team this [Sunday] afternoon during wrap up celebrations. My voice cracked during my toast, looking out at the people that mean the world to us. Everyone sunburnt, exhausted and a little hungover were now smiling, cheering, and crying,鈥� Chris added.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there was a dry eye in the house,鈥� Batten added.

In addition to thanking all the spectators who attended, all the sponsors who helped make it happen, and all the musicians who performed, he expressed gratitude to all the volunteers who make the charity event possible each year.

鈥淲e will never be able to put into words how grateful we are to our volunteers. The words just don鈥檛 exist. This is all because of them. All 200 of them. Thank you,鈥� Ruscheinski said.

鈥淭hank you to everyone who continues to support us idiots and our fight against cancer,鈥� he added.