Community Choir of Manchester's Concert to Benefit Injured Marine

The Community Choir of Manchester will perform a benefit concert on Jan. 20 at the South United Methodist Church on Main Street to benefit . 

Caron, a 2004 graduate of Ellington High School with deep roots in the area, was injured while serving in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near him. Caron lost lost both legs, a finger, took shrapnel to his body, and broke his collarbone. 

Cheryl Hilton, the director of the Community Choir of Manchester, said she had never met Greg Caron, but knew his mother Doreen, who works for the Manchester Board of Education. Hilton said that when she heard what happened to Greg Caron, she immediately wanted to help, but at first didn't know what to do. 

"I got an email one morning about what happened and I was kind of thinking that I'd really like to help, but what on earth could I do?" Hilton said. "I said 'wait a minute. I've got access to a wonderful group of people. I've got a whole choir I can tap into.'" 

From there, Hilton said things just sort of snowballed, and it wasn't long before the concert took shape. 

"Things just kind of kept piecing together so that now we have the day, the date, the time," she said. 

Hilton said the can accommodate about 500 people, and that she would love to see it filled to capacity that night, so the choir can raise as much money as possible for Greg Caron. 

"I certainly hope we're going to fill the church up," Hilton said. 

The concert is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20. Hilton said the concert is free to attend, but the choir will be accepting donations at the event to benefit Greg Caron. 

If you would like to make a donation to benefit Greg Caron but are unable to attend the concert, you can still do so with The Greg Caron Family Fund, 
P.O. Box 262, Ellington, CT 06029. Checks can be made payable to the Greg Caron Family Fund.