Charity event to benefit cancer survivor

Published 12:00 am Friday, September 3, 2004

Tammy Webb could be the fifth Beatle.

Just like the fab four, Webb has found she can get by with a little help from her friends - and some people she does not know so well either.

The 37-year-old Coal Grove resident has been waging a physical battle that has left their family financially wounded. In March, Webb was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a large-cell cancer.

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Countless tests, screenings, 6-months of chemotherapy and second opinions have taken their toll.

"We do have insurance, but it does not pay everything," Webb said, adding that she could not even guess as to how much the medical services have cost her. "The bills are still coming in."

Enter Bill Harper and friends. Though Harper hardly knew Tammy or her husband Floyd, he organized a charity benefit pig roast set for all day Saturday. It will be in a hayfield on County Road 52 (Sugar Creek-Johnstown Road), two miles from State Route 141, across from New Valley Missionary Church.

"My wife lost her sister to cancer almost two years ago. We did one of these in July to help a different family," Harper said. "So, we just wanted to try and help out."

The event will be open to the public and all the food will be free. Harper hopes that donations and raffles will help raise some money to help the Webb family pay their medical bills. The group plans to raffle everything from a car to sports memorabilia.

"It is going to be a fun day for all ages. We have got an air trampoline and we will have sack races and other games for kids," Harper said. "We are doing it for a purpose but it is also to have fun."

For Webb, who is feeling better and looking forward to the event, it is hard to describe what this support means.

"It touches my heart that people you don't even know have that good of a heart to help me out," Webb said. "Friends and neighbors out there have come together on this. I appreciate everything everyone has done."