J. Robbins needs your help!!

For those unfamiliar, J. Robbins was in Government Issue, Jawbox, Burning Airlines and Channels and has produced classic/great records by Texas is the Reason, The Promise Ring, Braid, Sleepytime Trio, Engine Down, Jets to Brazil, Jimmy Eat World, etc. etc. etc.

J. Robbins son is very sick, and he is just a little baby. I am reposting messages from Rob of 108 and The Fire Still Burns...Of course you should check out those bands but this isnt about good music. This is much more important. Read on.

--------From The Fire Still Burns
Hi friends of J. Robbins, Janet Morgan and Cal Robbins:

J. and Janet’s baby boy Cal was born with a serious genetic condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Though there is no cure for this condition, there are lots of treatments that promise to give Cal the the best possible quality of life. Unfortunately, many of these, especially the alternative treatments, are not covered by health insurance.

J. and Janet have given so much over the years to the music community we're all a part of, so Bill and I are hoping you can see in your hearts to help them out now.

We've set up a website with more information and a place to make a donation. All of the money will go straight to J. and Janet to help defray their growing medical bills.

Thanks for your support and feel free to send this email on to folks who might likewise be interested in helping. Take care—Kim Coletta and Bill Barbot

http://www.desotorecords.com/cal/index.shtml

----------From Rob of 108

"J. Robbins, best known for his work in Jawbox, and Janet Morgan, gave birth to a beautiful son Callum Robbins. Callum was recently diagnosed with a genetic motor neuron disease called Type 1 SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Simply put SMA kills kids. The disease affects the brain's ability to communicate with the voluntary muscles that are used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control, breathing, and swallowing. Type 1 SMA is usually fatal; most Type 1 babies will die before their second birthday. Those infants who survive into childhood are in for a long road of occupational therapy, wheelchairs, and assistive devices. Despite years of work on its treatment and "ongoing promising research," it has no cure.

I have two amazing sons that mean the world to me and I can't even imagine what J. and his family are feeling or going through. In addition to the emotional and physical tolls, the financial aspect to this situation is one that promises to get more difficult.

Everyone that knows me knows that I never ask for something unless it is important and this truly is. Punk rock is not a musical genre as much as it is a community and an esteemed member of our community needs our help now.

Bill and Kim, the former Jawbox members who also run DeSoto Records, have set up a fund where we can all help. The Callum Robbins Family Fund will help J. and Janet pursue every possible avenue of opportunity to help Cal out and give him the best treatments possible. I'd appeal to all of you to turn your attention to little Cal and to donate anything -- however small or large -- to his treatment fund.

For more information about Cal, SMA, The Callum Robbins Family Fund, and to donate something via PayPal, please visit Cal's site here.

With Love…
R and 108

Here is a link to the Pitchfork Media article. All sites have a link to the paypal account where you can donate money for the cause. I am not much of a philanthropist but a number of factors have led me to donate money. J. Robbins is very important in the underground rock scene, mainly the DC area and the Dischord group. He has produced many great bands, and I recently got a new puppy, and hes making me a softy. I cant imagine what I would do if something happened to him, and I can only imagine that is 1% of the feelings J and his wife must be feeling over the condition of their baby son....Donate a few dollars. If not for anything then a way of saying thanks for all the albums you have recently gotten for free.