If you go ...
■ What: Benefit for Jerry McNett
■ When: 5-10 p.m. Saturday
■ Where: Leisure Lanes
■ With: Taco bar, bowling, bake sale, silent auction, bidding auction and raffles
■ How else to help: An account has been set up for the family at Woodford State Bank.
MONROE - Fighting cancer isn't easy, just ask Jerry McNett.
"It's been difficult," McNett, a Warren resident, said bluntly. "Some days are better than others."
First diagnosed in January with stage four colon cancer, McNett has gone through an array of treatments including chemotherapy and surgery, as well as other alternative routes. He's changed his diet, quit smoking and drinking and tried to go natural and organic when possible. In September, McNett and his wife, Lisa, found out he would no longer qualify for Medicaid right as his second round of chemotherapy was scheduled to start.
That's when his half-sister, Linda Johnsen, stepped in.
"About two months ago we went out to eat as a family," Johnsen said. "Jerry was back to almost his old self again - smiling and telling jokes. But they needed help financially, because his new coverage isn't as great as before."
Johnsen wanted to hold a benefit to help raise money, and she began by looking for banquet halls in the region.
"I was looking for different banquet halls and wanted to keep the costs down. I made a phone call, went to look and it was awesome," Johnsen said.
Johnsen finalized the benefit to be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Leisure Lanes in Monroe. Part of the reason the facility works so well is because of McNett's 23-year-old son, Jerad, who is autistic.
"With everything they have there, arcades and bowling and everything, he can stay busy and we wouldn't have to keep an eye on him quite as much," Johnsen said.
McNett said that as difficult as cancer has been, trying to take care of his son - and his son's questions - have been just as trying.
"It can be stressful. I don't think he fully understands what's happening and even asks some things other kids might not ask in an off-hand way, like, 'Are you going to die, Dad?'" McNett said. "He gets nervous about things and needs a lot of reassurance."
The benefit will have a $10 entry fee for the taco bar and a soda, $15 for three hours of bowling or $20 for the bowling plus food and shoe rental. There will also be a bake sale, raffles and both a silent auction and a bidding auction. Woodford State Bank is also taking donations into an account for the family.
Despite not wanting to be the center of attention, McNett said he understands just how much those around him care.
"I feel that I have so many people behind me, who support me. It gives me great strength to fight this knowing they are there," he said. "I couldn't do this without them."
"It's been difficult," McNett, a Warren resident, said bluntly. "Some days are better than others."
First diagnosed in January with stage four colon cancer, McNett has gone through an array of treatments including chemotherapy and surgery, as well as other alternative routes. He's changed his diet, quit smoking and drinking and tried to go natural and organic when possible. In September, McNett and his wife, Lisa, found out he would no longer qualify for Medicaid right as his second round of chemotherapy was scheduled to start.
That's when his half-sister, Linda Johnsen, stepped in.
"About two months ago we went out to eat as a family," Johnsen said. "Jerry was back to almost his old self again - smiling and telling jokes. But they needed help financially, because his new coverage isn't as great as before."
Johnsen wanted to hold a benefit to help raise money, and she began by looking for banquet halls in the region.
"I was looking for different banquet halls and wanted to keep the costs down. I made a phone call, went to look and it was awesome," Johnsen said.
Johnsen finalized the benefit to be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Leisure Lanes in Monroe. Part of the reason the facility works so well is because of McNett's 23-year-old son, Jerad, who is autistic.
"With everything they have there, arcades and bowling and everything, he can stay busy and we wouldn't have to keep an eye on him quite as much," Johnsen said.
McNett said that as difficult as cancer has been, trying to take care of his son - and his son's questions - have been just as trying.
"It can be stressful. I don't think he fully understands what's happening and even asks some things other kids might not ask in an off-hand way, like, 'Are you going to die, Dad?'" McNett said. "He gets nervous about things and needs a lot of reassurance."
The benefit will have a $10 entry fee for the taco bar and a soda, $15 for three hours of bowling or $20 for the bowling plus food and shoe rental. There will also be a bake sale, raffles and both a silent auction and a bidding auction. Woodford State Bank is also taking donations into an account for the family.
Despite not wanting to be the center of attention, McNett said he understands just how much those around him care.
"I feel that I have so many people behind me, who support me. It gives me great strength to fight this knowing they are there," he said. "I couldn't do this without them."