NATCHEZ — Ron BeQuette spends a lot of time thinking about his 1-year-old son Brody as he travels for work, and a recent drive led to plans for a day of fun, food and fundraising on the bluff Saturday.

Brody is a happy, healthy baby today, but his short life hasn’t always gone so smoothly.

At 2 months old, Brody developed a case of RSV — respiratory syncytial virus. He spent seven days in a local hospital before coming home. Soon after, Brody stopped breathing.

He was rushed to the hospital and quickly airlifted to Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson.

He spent nine days on a ventilator in ICU and four more days in a regular room.

Now, BeQuette wants to give back to the hospital that he feels gave him his son back.

With the help of a few friends, including Joey and Sue Geter, BeQuette has organized the first Fall Fun Day to be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on the bluff.

The inspiration for the fundraiser was simple.

“I was driving and I saw a family out in the yard playing and something just dawned on me,” BeQuette said. “I told myself, if I don’t do it now, I’m never going to do it.”

So BeQuette got approval from Blair E. Batson and began work replicating the family fun he saw in the yard that day.

He has taken days off work and called in reinforcements to put together a fun family event to benefit the hospital.

Games including a football and baseball toss, a cakewalk and a duck pull, will join face painting, inflatable jumpers and live music.

Musicians the Wedding Crashers and Hannahbelle Southerland will perform.

Hotdog and hamburger plates will be for sale.

Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children and everyone is welcome.

Raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 or $5 for a chance to win a variety of prizes including an overnight stay in New Orleans, a grill, a turkey fryer and a gift certificate to Katie’s Ladies.

The event is one BeQuette plans to make an annual affair.