Patty Hall recently was diagnosed with squeamous cell cancer of the throat, and a benefit is scheduled to help pay for her medical expenses.
Hall, 56, Claypool, was diagnosed with the cancer Feb. 10.
She received her last paycheck in April and currently does not have any medical insurance. Medical bills are piling up. She is in need of treatments, but is unable to receive it without health insurance.
A benefit will be Aug. 9 at Rex's Rendezvous, 204 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, from noon to 8 p.m.
The ride will include a poker run, auction, raffle and hog roast. Eighties tribute band 81/89 will perform at 3 p.m., and Martin Brother's Blues Band, Fort Wayne, will perform at 6 p.m.
Registration will begin at noon and the ride will kick off at 1 p.m. at Rex's Rendezvous.
Stops will be at Claypool Inn, Pierceton Park and Huntington Street Bar & Grill, Syracuse. Motorcyclists will return to Rex's Rendezvous.
Hall said she still has problems eating and swallowing food.
Hall said she began experiencing pain in her throat, and she thought she had an ulcer. She said her voice was raspy and she had trouble breathing.
She went to the doctor and a biopsy found spots on her larynx that blocked her airway. A tumor was on her epiglottis, the flap that closes when a person swallows, and lymph node gland. She had 27 radiation treatments.
In June she was scheduled to have a follow-up CAT scan to look at her throat. Since she doesn't have medical insurance, she was not able to have the scan.
She was a nurse at Mason's Health Care, Warsaw, for five years.
After she was diagnosed with cancer, she got an infection of the mouth due to radiation burns, which required hospitalization. She also received third-degree burns to her neck, which became infected.
Due to her profession as a nurse and the infections on her neck, the doctor would not let her return to work and she lost her job.
She is still under doctor's care and her vehicle was recently repossessed.
Hall has a 12-year-old grandson, Aaron Keffer, she has been raising since birth.
Hall's friend and former co-worker, Kara Lekse, came up with the idea for the benefit. Hall was Lekse's nurse manager when they previously worked at Mason's Health Care together.
"Businesses and people have been very helpful with donations for the benefit and every little bit helps," Lekse said.
Businesses donated coupons that will be auctioned off.
Lekse said there are currently 200 motorcyclists registered for the poker run.Warsaw Parks Department has donated the use of picnic tables for the benefit. A dinner will be at 3 p.m. following the motorcycle ride.
Tickets are $10 for a dinner and $15 for a dinner and motorcycle ride.
Tickets are available at Rex's Rendezvous or can be purchased by calling Lekse at 574-527-9201 or Leslie Sheperd at 574-551-1907.
