Meeting Parton

Leesa Roleck’s dream is to meet Dolly Parton.

The 43-year-old has been a fan of the famous Tennessee singer since she was three years old.  She grew up watching and listening to Parton over the years and even saw her perform live on stage.

Doctors recently diagnosed Roleck with a terminal illness. She said they asked her what her one wish was and it was to see the acclaimed Smoky Mountain Songbird before she died.

“It would be my dream,” Roleck said. “It would mean the world to me. This is all I ever wanted even if it is the last thing I do before I die. Nothing means more to me than meeting Dolly Parton. She writes a lot of songs that have a lot of meaning to me. Sometimes I think she may know me personally.”

She was able to arrange a meeting with Parton through the Dolly Parton Foundation. Everything was set to go except on how to get there. Roleck said she needed to raise about $5,000 in order to transport herself and her caregivers to Dollywood in Tennessee.

In order to raise the amount needed, Roleck and her friends arranged for a benefit at the Confederation College cafeteria on Saturday. Roleck, who celebrates her birthday Sunday, wore a complete Dolly Parton outfit complete with a blonde wig and her idol’s beauty mark.

Parton started her career as a singer at an early age singing on local television and radio stations. Those early success helped launched Parton to stardom.

But it was Parton’s humanitarian work that Roleck said made the biggest impression on her.

“She does a lot of charity work for a lot of people around the world,” she said. “She just does a lot for so many people and that’s what really drew me to her.”

Roleck’s benefit wraps up at 4 p.m.

Follow Jeff Labine on Twitter @Labine_reporter