Around here they call him Mo’.
Folk-blues musician Mo’ Kauffey, born Gary Wickizer in Colorado about 64 years ago, is learning just how much he is liked and supported, both as a musician and as a man.
Wickizer learned last year that he has stage-four kidney cancer. It spread to his lungs, and more recently the cancer has appeared in his bones. Chemotherapy has been partly effective, but it has sapped his energy. Nevertheless, he has not stopped gigging over the time he has been in treatment.
Known throughout southern Ontario for his gritty, earthy vocals and fine blues picking, the musician said he has been overwhelmed by how the community of Guelph, and the music communities in Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton have rallied to support him and his family through this difficult time.
“Sometimes you just don’t know how much support there is for you until there’s a crisis in your life,” he said on Friday, at his home in Guelph. He cried as he spoke of the affection and assistance that has been extended to him and his wife, Rosita.
Wickizer has lived in the city for 15 years, and has been a mainstay in the area’s music community throughout that time. In recent months he has been unable to carry out his trade as a painter due to the side-effects of his treatment.
“Mo’ has got a complete fighting spirit,” said Cecile Gough, a former oncology nurse who has spearheaded local fundraising efforts, and is advising Wickizer on his care plan, helping him to navigate the health care system and hospital care.
“As an oncology nurse I saw what can happen when people are given such a devastating diagnosis,” Gough said. “Some succumb, and some just don’t. Mo’ is open to supporting himself in every way he can after the havoc that chemotherapy wreaks on the body.”
Wickizer said he deals with the impacts of the medication by eating properly and getting as much rest as he can.
“Thank goodness for the health care system we have,” he said. "But not everything is covered, so the support has been so important.”
So far there have been three benefit concerts in Guelph in recent months, in combination with an online fundraising campaign. A concert last November involving dozens of fellow musicians, coupled with a silent auction, raised about $12,000 for Wickizer.
Gough said 400 tickets were sold to the event at Royal Electric Bar and Public Eatery in downtown Guelph.
“It was the party to be at in 2015,” she said. “People just came out of the woodwork to help with that.”
Mo’ is grateful for it all.
“It’s blown my mind,” he said. “All I can do is say thank you. It ain’t over yet, and I ain’t done either. I’m holding on to hope. I haven’t given up. Miracles do happen, and all this love and support has everything to do with it.”
The Mo’ Better Benefit on Youcaring.com is ongoing. It has raised over $13,800 so far. Visit the site at www.youcaring.com/gary-wickizer-aka-mo-kauffey-457124 to donate.
The Monster Jam, happening Sunday, Feb. 14 at the KW Boathouse in Kitchener is in support of Wickizer. His band Kauffey Temple will play. It runs from 4-7 p.m. And the Mo’ Kauffey Fundraising Shindig happens on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Artword Artbar in Hamilton, from 2-6 p.m.
