As he awaits a lifesaving kidney transplant, Floyd Dowd relies on the kindness and generosity of friends, family and community members.

Three years ago while driving to work, Dowd was in a car wreck that resulted in a knee injury requiring surgery. After the procedure, Dowd suffered a severe reaction to morphine, which affected his kidney functions and caused extensive damage. His illness has left him unable to continue working as a supervisor for a lumber company where he worked for 50 years.

While doctors hoped regular dialysis treatments would improve Dowd's condition, they now know a kidney transplant is his only hope for a second chance at life. Unfortunately, the surgery will cost $250,000. Even with health coverage, Dowd and his family will face significant medical expenses.

To help alleviate some of the financial burden, the Dowd family turned to the National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) for assistance. NFT is a nonprofit organization that helps patients raise funds to pay for transplant-related expenses. NFT is currently working with Dowd's friends and family, including his wife and grown children, to host a benefit concert in his hometown.

The fundraiser will include a concert, raffle tickets and food available for purchase. Raffle prizes from local donors include a $100 gas card, pottery from a local artist, a free oil change, a manicure gift certificate and more.

The concert will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at North Moore High School. Donations will be accepted at the door. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1.

Anyone needing more information about the benefit can contact Diane Wyatt at 948-4419 or Becky Cheek at 464-5733.

To make donations in honor of Dowd, or any other NFT patient, please visit www.transplants.org and click on "patients we help" to search for them. They can also be mailed to: NFT North Carolina Kidney Fund, 5350 Poplar Avenue, Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Be sure to write "in honor of Floyd Dowd" in the subject line.

NFT is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization based in Memphis, Tenn. that has been helping transplant patients overcome financial obstacles since 1983. NFT provides fundraising expertise and advocacy to transplant patients by organizing fundraising campaigns in the patients' own communities.

NFT currently assists more than 700 transplant candidates and recipients nationwide. Anyone needing more information about NFT can call (800) 489-3863 toll-free or visit www.transplants.org.