The spring season promises sprouting flowers, fresh afternoon rain showers and pleasant breezes. This year, it will also bring a chorus of perfectly harmonized voices echoing throughout The Classic Center with the premiere of the first annual SpringSing benefit concert, hosted by Team Burns and the UGA Accidentals.

Team Burns, a new non-profit group from Walton County launched its endeavors to raise money for the American Cancer Society this past fall. A neighborhood group of Blockbuster employees was inspired to start the group in loving memory of Ted Burns who had colon cancer and passed away in August.

“My local Blockbuster is the greatest place on earth,” said Leslie Burns, wife of Ted Burns. “My husband was an outgoing man and would go to Blockbuster multiple times a week. He got to know the people who worked there, and when he passed, they were broken-hearted. They came to me and said they wanted to do something in his honor.”

In a short period of time, the group gathered neighbors, high school students and friends to raise an impressive $3000 to donate to Relay For Life and participated in the event in his name.

“After that, we realized it was a lot of fun and it felt good to donate,” Leslie Burns said. “Our little team is just so busy. We now do something every month, whether it be a baked goods or candy sale or nights out at restaurants that give portions of the proceeds to the cause.”

This Friday’s event will provide a night full of family style a cappella music – singing without instruments. Nine different performing acts, such as Atlanta’s Breakdown who does contemporary and Christian a cappella, Business as Usual from Connecticut, and the world-renowned group Blue Jupiter, will sing for the cause.

Additionally, the University’s three a cappella groups, the UGA Accidentals, Noteworthy and With Someone Else’s Money, Florida State’s All-Night Yahtzee – who are award winners throughout the college circuit – and two groups from Georgia Tech, Sympathetic Vibrations and Infinite Harmony, will perform. All collegiate groups except for co-host of the event, UGA Accidentals, will compete for trophies and cash prizes.

“The SpringSing event is the culmination of this past year,” said Robert Burns, son of Ted Burns and public relations director for the team. “The main thing to know is that we are remembering cancer patients.”

All ticket proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Attendees also have the chance to present their ticket from SpringSing at the entrance of Relay for Life to receive half off the admission price.

“I have to laugh because I have a team that is full of energy and full of ideas,” Leslie Burns said. “It is their humanitarian spirit that is stepping up to say ‘I want to help’ because they feel good for what they are doing for society and in honor of Mr. Burns.”