TAMPA, Fla. — Many people have been singing the blues during the pandemic, but on January 21, people across the Tampa Bay area will be lip-syncing for hope.
By day Dr. John Prpich is a pediatric pulmonary specialist, but by night he is a lip-sync competitor, with an emphasis on sync.
“You really don’t want to hear me sing. It would be a painful experience,” said Dr. Prpich.
On January 21 at 7 p.m., Dr. Prpich will be unveiling a music video of his rendition of “Together” from the band for King and Country. It’s all part of the annual Lip Sync For Lungs fundraiser to benefit the American Lung Association.
“My goal was to really highlight not just myself or my performance but to highlight all the people I work with and provide care for all my families and patients,” said Dr. Prpich.
This year all the performances were pre-recorded and will be aired virtually. After the emergence of COVID-19, Dr. Prpich said the mission to raise money and awareness is more important now than ever.
“Provide research to prevent anything like this from ever happening again with future respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Prpich.
However, Dr. Prpich said while COVID-19 dominates the headlines, his patients face a whole other set of challenges.
“Fairly significant severe asthma is very common in our area, and it’s a major part of what we do here,” said Dr. Prpich.
The Tampa native said what inspired him most to get out there and lip sync is the young boys and girls he treats every day.
“They are going to pee on you, they are going to throw up on you, they are going to cough, they are going to be unhappy, they are going to be fussy, they are the great humbling common denominator, so it makes it fun, plus they are the only people to laugh at my jokes,” said Dr. Prpich.
For more information on how to watch, donate and vote for your favorite performance, go to lipsyncforlungstampa.org.
