By Hannah Osborne
Following a 15-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Atlanta radio legend Steve McCoy has entered hospice care.
After first making his debut in the Atlanta market in 1981, McCoy would join forces with co-host Vikki Locke in 1987 on WSTR-FM (Star 94) to become a concrete piece of the Atlanta morning drive. “Steve and Vicki in the Morning” featured numerous A-list celebrities who dedicated substantial time and effort to raise funds and awareness for charities.
The show would run for 18 memorable years before McCoy would spend some time in the Texas market, make a return to Atlanta at B98.5 (WSB-FM) and spend some time with a station in Colorado.
Originally diagnosed in 2006, McCoy refrained from sharing his condition with his peers and colleagues for a number of years, eventually revealing his situation in 2015.
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized for McCoy by a family friend.
“Steve’s family has not asked for financial support but his longtime co-host Vikki Locke, who remains very close to Steve and his family, shared the catastrophic financial realities of caring for someone with a disease that often has a drawn-out decline,” says Jaye Watson, who has organized the GoFundMe on behalf of Linda Terrana.
Reluctant to ask for donations from the community, the family only agreed to the campaign upon the condition that half of all proceeds will be donated to families in similar circumstances.
According to GoFundMe, the family has chosen the Atlanta Neuroscience Foundation to be the recipient of the second half of the donations. This donation will assist families that require caregiving expenses.
Donations can be made here Help Atlanta Radio Icon, Steve McCoy.
In addition to the GoFundMe campaign, which has garnered more than half of the $100,000 goal, a fundraiser for McCoy is taking place Aug. 27 at the Punchline Comedy Club in Buckhead. Tickets for the show, “Stand Up For Steve McCoy Against Parkinson’s,” can be purchased for $75 here.
“Steve has been battling Parkinson’s disease and we wanted to take the opportunity to host a night of comedy to give back some of the laughter to a person who has been so generous with his,” says The Punchline Comedy Club.
Proceeds from the event will be shared with local Parkinson’s nonprofits and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
“Steve McCoy helped thousands of people make it through another morning, five days a week for 18 years,” says Watson. “At just 69 years old, we can help him. We can provide care and comfort in this last stage of his life.”
In addition to the GoFundMe campaign, which has garnered more than half of the $100,000 goal, a fundraiser for McCoy is taking place Aug. 27 at the Punchline Comedy Club in Buckhead. Tickets for the show, “Stand Up For Steve McCoy Against Parkinson’s,” can be purchased for $75 here.
“Steve has been battling Parkinson’s disease and we wanted to take the opportunity to host a night of comedy to give back some of the laughter to a person who has been so generous with his,” says The Punchline Comedy Club.
Proceeds from the event will be shared with local Parkinson’s nonprofits and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
“Steve McCoy helped thousands of people make it through another morning, five days a week for 18 years,” says Watson. “At just 69 years old, we can help him. We can provide care and comfort in this last stage of his life.”
