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Founder of Richmond community radio could use some community help fighting cancer

Posted at 12:23 AM, Feb 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-06 15:12:43-05

RICHMOND, Va. -- Every year for the past 11 years, the annual WRIR Independent Radio party is one of the coolest shindigs in Richmond.

Friday night's "Party For The Rest of Us" at the Renaissance Convention Center was no exception.

The Party’s music featured, among many others, Richmond's red-hot Lucy Dacas, now getting national attention.

If you're cool, you were likely there.

And part of the evening was to shower props, and some support, to the guy who really made it all happen.

Chris Maxwell is one of the heartbeats of the community of Richmond. You might not see him, but you can hear him.

He literally wore out shoes getting rules and laws passed or changed to allow a community-based, independent radio station, broadcast by and for us, 100 percent volunteer-driven and on the air 24/7.  (Listen at 97.3 FM.)

Chris Maxwell

Chris Maxwell

Now, at 50, Chris in the midst of another difficult battle, an aggressive form of prostate cancer, similar to what claimed Frank Zappa at age 52.

He's had major surgery, with more treatment to follow.

It's his turn for some community help, and he's getting it.

"It's such a relief not to be left to the wolves," he said at the party. "This is going to sound so corny, but when people started donating money or like a food card for Kroger, things like that said, I thought, wow, I can buy some slippers."

That's Chris, a guy who lives simply. Since his surgery, it's hard for him to tie his shoes and he had no slippers.

As Dustin Richardson, another key figure in the development of WRIR, said, "That's what happens to people who follow their passion, they're not rich people. Rich people follow the money. People who follow their passion, they're not always flush with cash."

Richardson reflected on Chris' drive and perseverance to make WRIR happen (along with five other community stations underway) in regard to this new battle against cancer.

"If anybody can overcome cancer," Richardson said, "that dude totally can."

If you would like to help Max click here.

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