On July 27, Stanley Pierce and his wife Peggy will be flown to Memphis, Tenn., where the research hospital is based, for a day of activities before being recognized at an award banquet.

"It's a real honor," Pierce said. "We're really looking forward to it."

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital specializes in caring for children with cancer and other serious illnesses as well as researching cancer treatments.

Over the last 11 years, Pierce has raised about $235,000 for St. Jude through his annual gospel singing events.

Each year in August, Pierce brings a lineup of well-known gospel artists to the Georgia Mountain Center in Gainesville for a free concert that attracts between 1,800 and 2,300 people.

Though there is no admission fee, people are asked to make a "love offering" to benefit St. Jude.

"We've raised $25,000 a year or better," Pierce said.

Pierce is a gospel singer himself and has recorded solo and group songs. He has made many friends in the gospel community, which led him to the idea of hosting a gospel benefit concert.

He said the concert has grown to be one of St. Jude's largest annual fund-raising events.

"It's a really good lineup, and we try to do a better job every year," Pierce said. "I'm so appreciative of this community for coming out to support it every year."

The inspiration for his many years of fundraising for the hospital is his son Craig, who died from leukemia in 1983 at age 10.

Craig was treated at St. Jude, and the Pierces will visit the Memphis hospital to see a plaque that has been placed in their son's memory.

"It brings back a lot of memories," Pierce said of returning to the hospital.