Mary Travers to Perform Again

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, who has been battling leukemia, will perform in a holiday concert Dec. 9 in Manhattan's Carnegie Hall. <br/><br/>It will be the first performance

Friday, December 2nd 2005, 1:28 pm

By: News On 6

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, who has been battling leukemia, will perform in a holiday concert Dec. 9 in Manhattan's Carnegie Hall.

It will be the first performance by the popular folk trio, which also includes Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey, since Travers was diagnosed a year ago.

She has been making a steady recovery since a bone marrow transplant was performed in April. Doctors have told her that tests so far show no signs of the disease.

``I think they're very happy with my progress,'' Travers, 69, told The Associated Press on Monday. ``They're all thrilled and they're all coming to the concerts.''

Travers had been waiting for a donor match after chemotherapy failed to stop the disease. She had lost about 60 pounds and much of her trademark long blond hair.

``I will not be shaking my hair out of my face,'' she said. ``But I kind of like it short.''

Travers said she doesn't know her donor yet, but hopes to meet the person someday. ``My donor has a lifetime of free concerts to Peter, Paul and Mary,'' she said.

The trio, known for hits such as ``Leaving on a Jet Plane'' and ``Puff (The Magic Dragon)'' are planning a dozen concerts next year.

Travers said she's received more than 10,000 e-mails from well-wishers around the world.

``The messages were so heartfelt and so lovely,'' she said. ``You really get to a place where you begin to feel all that goodwill, all those prayers are really part of the medicine that make you well.''