Dave Freeman’s home is in Florida, but it is obvious his heart remains in Carbon County.

The former Palmerton resident came back to the area on Monday for a single purpose - to perform at a fundraiser for the Schuylkill-Carbon Chapter of the American Cancer Society in Lehighton.

He performed at LOCStock, which was a rafting and bike-riding event to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

It was held at the Lehighton Outdoor Center, with scores of individuals riding in rafts 4 miles on the Lehigh River or riding bicycles various distances in the fundraising effort.

Freeman, who had played in several local bands when he lived locally, said he is a friend to Bud Wychulis, also a local musician who has been a part of American Cancer Society fundraisers for decades.

Wychulis, whose band Remember When was well-known throughout the region, lost his wife to cancer in February. Freeman said when he was informed of the death of Sandy Wychulis, he wanted to come to the event.

“They called me and said they were having (LOCStock) and I said, ‘when do you want me there?’?” he said.

“I came up for Buddy Wychulis,” he said.

He, along with Jon Sampson and 15-year-old Amber Peirce of Whitehall, put together the band The Trio Grande.

At LOCStock, they sang classic rock numbers, which included such selections as “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield and “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes.

Serving as emcees for the event were Layne “The Doc” Roberts and Conrad Flynn.

Lisa Hoey, community development manager of the American Cancer Society, said she was happy with the turnout at the event. “The expectation wasn’t about funding but about getting out information.”

Over a dozen rafts, with various numbers of people aboard, took part in the rafting for cancer event. The rafts and transportation to the river were provided by Jim Thorpe River Adventures.

An undetermined number of bicyclists rode along the Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Corridor instead of riding in the rafts.

One of them was Gary Gray of Allentown who rode a total of 66 miles - a mile for each year of his life - in memory of his wife who died from cancer.

Jerry McAward, owner of Lehighton Outdoor Center, donated the use of the bikes and his facility for LOCStock.

The Lehighton Area Lioness Lions Club sold food at the event with the proceeds going to the ACS.