Free concert helps Gardnerville resident Ted Nagel fight cancer

The Bible says God will never give you more than you can handle, and Gardnerville resident Ted Nagel truly believes this promise.

Nagel, 56, was diagnosed with a rare skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, in April.

“Because of my faith I’m not really worried,” Nagel said of his diagnosis. “It’s a win-win situation for me. If God chooses to heal me, I still have more work here to do. If he chooses to take me home, then how can I complain about being with my Father?” Starting next week, Nagel will undergo six weeks of radiation treatment, five days a week at the Carson Tahoe Cancer Center.

To help Nagel pay for various expenses during treatment, friends have organized a “Rockin’ and Rollin’ Over Cancer” benefit concert noon-5 p.m. Aug. 30 in Heritage Park.

Riff Raff, Bootleggers and Mo and the Cromerzones will perform free concerts.

“We’re going to pass the bucket every hour,” Nagel said. “We’ll also have raffles, silent auctions and a 50/50 drawing.”

Nagel said his cancer is treatable, but it can spread quickly through the lymph system. He has had two surgeries to remove growths on his left thigh.

“We’re taking every precaution we can to keep it from popping up anywhere else,” he said. “My family has been riddled by cancer. I lost two sisters, a niece, an uncle, an aunt and three or four cousins. My brother is currently in remission from melanoma”

Nagel has lived in Gardnerville for 18 years. He operates a mobile DJ, singing and karaoke business called Rolling Thunder Musical Entertainment Company which provides entertainment at Lampe Park Farmers Market, and the annual Relay For Life event. Nagel also hosts weekly family karaoke in Heritage Park.

Being born with a birth defect that confines him to a wheelchair with little use of his arms and legs, Nagel is no stanger to struggle. “The Lord gives me challenges all the time,” he said. “The Bible says He’ll never give you more than you can handle and I totally believe that, I just wish he didn’t have so much faith in me.”

Nagel has been married to his wife Liz for five years and has a strong support system through friends and his church family at High Sierra Fellowship.

“It’s a real challenge for Liz, too,” Nagel said. “She’s hanging in there. Nobody plans for this kind of thing.”

For those who can’t make the benefit concert, a donation account named “Rockin’ and Rollin’ Over Cancer” has been established at Wells Fargo Bank. A Go Fund Me account is also available at GoFundMe.com/BeatingCancerWithYourHelp.

For more information, or to donate raffle items call Darlene Bujold at 771-9687.