A growing Jersey Shore charity, Music is the Medicine Foundation, returns this weekend with a benefit concert that honors a local man, while raising money for juvenile diabetes.

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This weekend, the Ocean County charity will host: Strike Out Diabetes!  A Benefit Concert in Support of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  The event will be held at 8PM on Saturday, June 23rd at JR's Ocean Grill on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk.

The concert is inspired by Alfred Joseph  Risicato from Howell, who passed away last month at the age of 56.  Risciato's two passions in life were his family and baseball, as he was a life-long Yankee fan, and very involved with the local baseball and softball scene.

Music is the Medicine is the brainchild of brothers Dan, Connor, and Brent Effenberger from Toms River.  The brothers are very involved with the local music scene, and looked for a way to give back through the power of music.

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The idea took off in 2010, when they held the first charity concert, in honor of their good friend and returning soldier, JD Wilson, who is also very involved with the non-profit.  The concert, which was a huge success, raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

The unique part of Music is the Medicine is that they search for a cause each year to devote their time, resources, and most of all, raise money and awareness for.  Last year, a friend, John Hoffman, had succumb to brain cancer, which made the second benefit concert idea an easy decision.

They hosted "Do it for Johnny," once again Seaside Heights during the summer 0f 2011.

MITM has raised over $16,000, with money going towards the Wounded Warrior Project, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center, Oceans of Love, and Toys for Tots.

The hallmark of their fundraisers is a strong gathering of people from around the shore area and great live music.  Saturday's event will be no different.

Popular local bands The Amboys, Accidental Seabirds, Gleasons Drift, and Threats to Chesney will perform to help MITM reach their fundraising goal, with all proceeds going to the  Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

More information about the event can be found on the charity's website and Facebook page.  If you wish to make a donation, you can contact the group at MITMfoundation@gmail.com.

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