By Justin Jervinis
DANVERS — Brian and Jerry Harrison have learned a thing or two about camping out on a roof in the years they've been doing it.
They're spending this weekend on top of McKinnon's Butcher Shop for the 10th annual Rooftop Retreat, a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and they're prepared.
They have a better stereo, better tents, better lounge chairs, better shading and better lighting at night.
"The difference of the event from year to year is I get older. People know us and remember us," Brian Harrison said. "I feel like I'm a celebrity."
The event started when their brother Bill Harrison camped out on the Toys "R" Us roof in Peabody as a tribute to Jerry's son Patrick, who died of cystic fibrosis when he was 20 years old.
"I thought he was a wacko," Brian said. "But then when he was doing it again the next year, I decided to do it with him."
The Harrison brothers will camp on the rooftop until Sunday at noon. Typically, people beep their horns as they drive by. Their families collect donations.
To Brian, the event is huge, but it's also personal because his daughter, Nicole, who is 13, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 5.
Jerry is doing it because he does not want to leave his brother alone up there.
"We're family. We're all sick together," Jerry said.
Their brother Bill moved to Texas four years ago.
"It's a good cause, an easy way to help out," said Eric Boucher, manager of McKinnon's Butcher Shop on Holten Street.
One year, the market gave the brothers a grill to cook on and to sell in a raffle.
Ideally, the goal for the fundraiser is $20,000. However, because the economy has been so bad, an expectation of $15,000 is reasonable, they said.
"This is nothing compared to what these people go through," Jerry said. "We can suck it up for a weekend."
